KNOTTS, George Clark
KNOTS, CLARK, FIFE, SKINNER, SEAGRAVES, ANDERSON
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/4/2018 at 15:02:58
George Clark Knotts
October 29, 1931 - February 13, 2018Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, IowaGeorge Clark Knotts, age 86, of Lamoni, Iowa, was born October 29, 1931, in a log cabin in Langley, Oklahoma to Charles Wesley and Olola Maude (Clark) Knotts. He left this life suddenly on February 13, 2018, at his home.
George often told stories of his adventurous youth while growing up at Langley on a ranch in the Grand Lake area of Oklahoma's green country, and the love and support of his mother, whom everyone referred to as, Lola. While in school he played football, basketball, and baseball, graduating from Vinita High School in 1950.
George was baptized as a boy into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was called to serve in the priesthood, first as priest in the Aaronic priesthood, later as an Elder in the Melchezedek Priesthood, and finally in 1965, to the office of Seventy.
George continued his education at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, then a junior college, and completed his Bachelors of Science in Art Education from Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas.
In 1953, as an art student at KU George carved the first freestanding stone sculpture of the Kansas University Jayhawk. The hand polished limestone statue was purchased by the Chancellor of the university and placed on permanent exhibit in the Kansas Memorial Student Union later that same year. The statue became known as the embodiment of the Jayhawk mascot and was stolen by rival schools, including Kansas State University and University of Missouri, on numerous occasions. Through the years, George made a living traveling to Lawrence to sell bronze statues and paintings of the KU Jayhawk for fans around the world.
It was at KU that George met his beloved wife, Elizabeth Ann (Fife) Knotts, also an art student at KU. They were married in Lawrence, Kansas in 1953, and two years later their first son, Daniel George Knotts, was born in Ogden, Utah, while they awaited the possibility of George being called to service in the Korean War draft, which he never was.
George taught art at East High in Des Moines, Iowa, and it was there that their second son, John David Knotts, was born in 1957, and Michael Mathew Knotts was born in 1965. The family later moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma where George was hired to be the Director of the Graphic Arts Center at Oklahoma State University. It was there he designed the OSU brand logo. Their twin daughters, Deborah Lola and Ruth Elizabeth were born there in 1971.
George was an avid outdoorsman, camper, and supporter of the Boy Scouts. Much of his family vacations and ministry were completed in the camp setting. While working under appointment for the RLDS Church, he directed hundreds of youth summer camps. George had a gift for making complex subjects simple by using his creative and artistic talents. He developed a pamphlet called, "What's Your Heart's Desire?" which illustrates the scriptural promises liked to finding your life's purpose. During that time, he also designed the Agape symbol, still used by Agape house at Graceland University today. He considered his service as a minister for Jesus Christ to be the most important calling of his life.
In 1976, George moved his family to Blue Springs, Missouri to work for Neighborhood Councils as a graphic artist in Independence, Missouri. In 1998, he and his wife, Beth, retired to Lamoni, Iowa.
He is survived by his wife, Beth Knotts; his five children, Dan Knotts and wife, Susan, of Lamoni, John Knotts of Spavinaw, Oklahoma, Stretch Knotts of Lamoni, Deb Skinner and husband, Shane, of Lamoni, and Ruth Seagraves and husband, Mike, of Sacramento, California; grandson, Caleb Knotts of Eugene, Oregon; granddaughters, Jordan Knotts of Lamoni, Georgia Seagraves, Maya Seagraves, and Kendra Seagraves, all of Sacramento, California, and Samantha Skinner of Lamoni; niece, Leah Anderson of Vinita, Oklahoma; and many brothers and sisters in Christ, co-workers, and friends.
The family is honoring George at a memorial service at 10 a.m. March 17, 2018, at the Lamoni Community of Christ.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2018
Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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