Carrie Knowles

Carrie Mae Nero was born on May 20, 1918, in Milo, Oklahoma, as the fourth of ten children born to James Levi and Nonie Mae Nero. As a young girl, Carrie attended and was an active member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, where she was baptized at an early age. She also held membership in Pilgrim Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church during her life. Always feisty and independent, Carrie met and married her husband of 61 years, King J. Knowles Sr., on July 15, 1933 at the tender age of 15. They established their matrimonial domicile on a rural farm on Route 2 in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, on land that had been owned by the Knowles family for several generations. Both King and Carrie greatly enjoyed their rural farm life, which was comprised of raising a variety of farm animals including chickens, cows, and pigs, planting three large vegetable gardens, harvesting fruit and nuts from various vines, trees and bushes growing on the property, as well as hunting and fishing aplenty. Two overflowing deep freezers and a cellar were testaments to the success of their farm and seldom was it that a visiting family member, friend or even stranger left their home empty handed. Remarkably, but rightly so, the 5’2” Carrie became known as “Little Mama” and 6’4” King as “Daddy King” as their marriage proved to be equally as fruitful as their farm by producing eight children, five sons and three daughters, who proved to be even more fruitful in producing an increasingly greater number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren, much to Little Mama’s joy and delight for she greatly loved babies. Rejoicing in the goodness of God, like her father before her, Little Mama was a praying woman who loved reading her Bible, going to church and singing hymns. Although raised in the Baptist tradition, later in life she put on Christ and was added to his Church, but her love of God knew no bounds; hence she enjoyed fellowshipping with other denominations as well. Her love of God was also reflected in her loving and giving spirit, which she manifested throughout her life, even until the very end. Imaginative and inquisitive, Little Mama loved to read, cook, and most importantly sew. People would come from miles around to seek her expertise as a seamstress. Often she could just simply look at an outfit and then cut out a pattern to make it for herself or a friend or loved one. She was very creative and loved to knit, crochet and embroider cloth in addition to sewing. Many of her children and grandchildren on down the line can attest to being the blessed recipient of creativity in the form of a new outfit, clothing for dolls, hat, mittens and scarves for chilly winters and quilts, blankets, afgans and curtains for the decorative furnishing of rooms. Despite a stroke that had left her partially paralyzed and numerous other ailments that greatly reduced her ability to care for herself later in life, Little Mama often expressed the desire and even belief that she could still sew a little something for herself or others, but especially new grandbabies. Exiting this life on Saturday, September 23, 2006 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Little Mama leaves to cherish her memory, five sons: King J. Knowles Jr. (Trena) of Dallas, Texas, Larry Joe Knowles of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Anthony Ray Knowles (Dena) of Norman, Oklahoma, Darrell E. Knowles (Shelley) of Norman, Oklahoma, and Roy Danny Knowles (Kathy) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; one daughter: Elisa Nannette Knowles Collins (Frank) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; one stepson: Robert Knowles of Spencer, Oklahoma; three sisters: Martell Boyd (J.P.) of Tatums, Oklahoma, Maxine Bruner of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Sugar Mae Burroughs of Hennepin, Oklahoma; 49 grandchildren; 114 great grandchildren; 82 great great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband; two daughters: Patricia Awana Stevenson (Obbie) and Donna Kay Threatt (Larry); two grandchildren: Janet Knowles and Daniel Knowles; seven siblings: Vergie Kendricks, Emmett Nero, Curtis Nero, Opal Tyner, Olen Nero, Excell Hawley and Joe Nell Nero; and her parents. She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

Carrie Knowles

May 20, 1918 - September 23, 2006