Roy Knox

Services for James Roy Knox, 67, beloved husband, dad, Cowboy and Pirate fan, will be held 3:00 P.M. Friday, May 7, at First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg with the Rev. Jeff Dungan officiating and Russ Knox delivering the eulogy. A private family burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery prior to the service. A “Celebration of Life Reception” will be held at the Knox home immediately following the service.  Honorary Pallbearers are Kenny Knox – Nephew, Brad Burris – Nephew, Stephen Parker – Nephew, Chris Gaddis – Nephew, and his entire TXU Family

He was born in Bowie, Texas to James Montgomery Knox and Betty Jean Knox on Feb. 19, 1954. He was the oldest of three siblings. He grew up in Albuquerque, NM in his younger years and took pride in telling everyone he had to walk to school when it was zero degrees in a heavy snow storm. He moved back to Texas in 1970; lived a short-time in Tyler when he was a sophomore at Robert E. Lee High School, before moving to Marshall in 1971 and graduating from Marshall High School in 1972. From then, he worked for Texas Power and Light and earned a work-study scholarship earning a two-year degree from Tyler Junior College. Throughout his 40-year career, he worked for some form of Texas Power & Light, Texas Utilities or Luminant.

In November 1971, he met his high school sweetheart, Debbie Floyd, and married her on Aug. 23, 1975. They lived in Mesquite after the marriage for a short stint and then Roy applied for a job at the Monticello Steam Electric Station, known as Texas Utilities, in March of 1976. From there he continued working until his retirement in January 2017. He enjoyed a notable career at what was known Luminant on his retirement. The couple had planned to live in Mount Pleasant, where his wife had lived until 1969, when General Dynamics closed its doors in Lone Star. But the cost of living was less in Pittsburg and Kenneth and Sue Smith had new apartments on Hill Avenue, so they made their home in Pittsburg. They planned on moving to Mount Pleasant later but fell in love with Pittsburg.

At the end of June 1982 on a family beach vacation, Roy and Debbie learned of an opportunity to adopt a baby. Jonathan Russell Knox was born in July 1982 and there was never a question how much Roy loved his son. From T-ball to soccer as a youth, to football, 7 on 7, and baseball in high school, Russ played it all and his dad made every single practice, game and banquet he could. Russ paid attention to everything his daddy did including leaving church at 11:50 on Sundays if the Cowboys played at 12. He served as president of the Pittsburg Pirate Athletic Organization during Russ’s high school years but Betty Marshall really made all the decisions.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie; one son, Russ of Austin; his mother, Betty Knox of Marshall; brother and sister-in-law, Herb and Jan Knox of Marshall; sister and brother-in-law, Kim and Neil Kennemer of Tyler; sister-in-law, Jan Gaddis of Mount Pleasant; nieces and nephews, Robyn and Stephen Parker of Pittsburg, Kenny and Skye Knox and Nicki and Brad Burris, all of Marshall, Chris Gaddis and Niki of Denver; Brandi Reynolds and Amber and Joe Grisham all of Tyler; and three fur babies, Landry, Charlie and Pixie and one grand dog, Royal. He was preceded in death by his father, and one niece Tiffani Knox. 

Memorial Donations may be made to First United Methodist Church at 109 College Street Pittsburg, Texas 75686 or Cypress Basin Hospice at 207 Morgan Street Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455.