Charles Alan McKnight

Chuck McKnight left this earthly world on Thursday, October 25th to enjoy his heavenly reward with his Lord and Savior. He died at 67 after a lengthy illness. He was born on March 19th, 1951 in Greeley, Colorado to Claude and Florence McKnight.

After high school, he attended Sterling Junior College and then transferred to CSU where he majored in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in hydraulic/water resources engineering. He was hired out of college to work at Owen Ayres and Associates in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He met Suzanne Bacon there and they married on October 12th,1974. He returned to CSU in Ft. Collins and started work on his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering and graduated in 1977. He continued to work for Owen Ayres after transferring to a branch office in Brighton, Colorado. Shortly after that he was hired by a consulting engineering firm in Lakewood, Sellards and Grigg.

He was proud of his professional participation in the River Walk in Pueblo, Colorado in the Union Avenue Historic District. He did wetlands conservation and flood plains work in many areas of the state. Later in his career he did expert witness work as a consultant from Sellards and Grigg. He finished his engineering career with Parsons and Brinkerhoff of Denver. He was a highly qualified and respected engineer in Water Resources. He served as President of the American Society of Civil Engineers and was instrumental in encouraging young women to choose engineering as a life-long career.

He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in December of 1983. Although he could not continue to run marathons, he remained physically active by walking, swimming, biking and hiking the mountains of Colorado. He climbed Longs Peak and Mt. Elbert, as well as Mt. Evans. He was loved and admired by his friends and family.

Chuck is survived by his daughter Annie Worth (husband Chris) and his only granddaughter Wynonna. He was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by two sisters, Carolyn Pritchett (husband Milo) of Sacramento, California and Barbara Knox-Bergin (husband Dennis) of Broomfield, Colorado. He is also survived by one nephew, three nieces, many cousins and two aunts.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 1st at 1:00 p.m. at the Tabor-Rice Funeral Home in Brighton, Colorado at 75 S 13th Avenue. A reception will follow at the Alli Event Center at 100 South 3rd Avenue in Brighton. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Chuck’s name to the MS Society, 900 South Broadway. 2nd Floor, Denver, Colorado 80209.

“When we have done all the work we were sent to do, we are allowed to shed our body which imprisons our soul like a cocoon and encloses it unto ourselves. When the time is right we can let go of it. Then we will be free of our pain, free of our fears and worries—free as a beautiful butterfly returning home to God.”
Elisabeth Kuebler-Ross.

We will miss your wonderful sense of humor Chuck and your loving and caring soul. We will cherish our memories of you and fondly remember the special moments we shared together. Love forever and always, Your devoted family.
Chuck’s family and friends would like to thank his daughter Annie, Annie’s Mom, Chuck’s buddy Ken, Sheila Chandler and Hospice for his daily care in all aspects of his lengthy illness. We praise God for the loving, compassionate and dignified care that he received.

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