Stanley & Sandra Knowles

Stanley Walter Knowles, 84, passed away February 7, 2021, and his wife of 59 years Sandra Gunn Knowles, 82, passed away February 10, 2021, after hard-fought battles with the Covid virus at Oro Valley Hospital in Tucson, AZ.

Stan was born July 1,1936 in Seminole, OK, to Walter "Red" Perry Knowles and Agnes "MeMe" Lasater Knowles. Growing up in Great Bend, KS, Stan was involved in all types of sports, and was a dominate track & field athlete in the high hurdles and quarter mile run. He set the high school record for the 120-yard-high hurdles and anchored the record-setting mile relay team. He received an athletic scholarship from Kansas State University where his athletic career was cut short due to a severe knee injury while running the hurdles. Stan then took up golf where he became a single-digit handicap golfer.

Sandra Ann Gunn was born September 21, 1938 in Clovis, NM, to Bert and Patricia P. Gunn. Following graduation from Great Bend High School, Sandra went to St. Francis School of Nursing in Wichita, KS, where she graduated with a nursing degree, and returned to Great Bend to work as a nurse for a local doctor.

Stan first asked Sandra out on a date with the encouragement of his mother who saw Sandra come into Howard's Dress Shop in Great Bend, where Agnes worked. For their first date, Stan took Sandra to a driving range where she watched him hit golf balls. Who knew that date would be the beginning of their great adventure in life which took them to the Far East and Australia.

Married February 3, 1962, in Great Bend, Stan and Sandra are the parents of daughter Kimberly Kaye and son Kevin Walter. Sandra supported their young family as a nurse while Stan earned his engineering degree from Kansas State University in 1965. Following graduation, he began his career with the Caterpillar Corporation in Peoria, IL. From Midwest small town beginnings, these two kids ended up living and working internationally in Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Melbourne (Australia).

Fun loving and adventurous, Sandra quickly settled into life in Hong Kong, learning to play Mahjong and volunteering at the China Fleet Club (a popular military exchange and commissary retreat for our servicemen serving in the Far East). Sandra also hosted dinner parties, and organized shopping and city tours for the wives of visiting Caterpillar employees. Her love for spicy cuisine became a challenge to her friends...no one ever found a pepper or dish too intense for her. Her abundant cookbook collection was a testament to her love of cooking. A quote by Mary Ann Evans beautifully describes the essence of who Sandra was to those who knew her, "Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another."

Following their vast international travels, they then returned to Peoria, where Stan retired from Caterpillar after a 36-year career.

In retirement, Stan and Sandra moved to Saddlebrooke Country Club, Tucson, AZ in 2001. Here they continued to entertain an ever-growing list of family friends, travel, play golf, mahjong, sing along to Toby Keith in the car, and toast their mountain view most evenings with a glass of wine. Sandra often said, "When the mountain turns pink, it's time to drink." Stan was a straight shooter and opinionated but fiercely loyal to family and friends. He was a tough competitor and won many club golf championships. Stan and Sandra also lovingly settled into their roles as Papa and Nana...chocolate bunny pancakes, Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream for breakfast, driving across country to watch Jordan and Brady play sports or attend their birthday parties, and a 4-day white water rafting trip in their 70's just because it was something Brady wanted to do.

Survivors are two children, Kim Loya (Darrell) of Sugar Land, TX, and Kevin Knowles (Anne) of Tucson, AZ; two grandchildren, Jordan Nicole Loya of Austin, TX, and Brady Dylan Knowles of Manhattan, KS; Stan's brother, Terry Knowles (Marcia) of Topeka, KS; Stan's sister, Kaye Labaj of Austin, TX; and Sandra's brother, Doug Gunn (Shirley) of Weaverville, NC; numerous nephews, nieces, and other family members; and beloved cat, Hagi.

Stan and Sandra were preceded in death by their parents; by her youngest brother, Billy Gunn and his wife Carol; and by their beloved cat, Ragi.

Stan and Sandra touched the lives of so many people. We appreciate the love and support everyone has shown us. Mom and Dad are together in a better place now, and we are grateful for the love and life they shared with each other and all of us.

We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for their unwavering commitment to care, not only for our family, but for countless others day in and day out. Their wisdom and compassion carried us and we hope they know the depth of our gratitude.

As per their request, there will be no funeral service. Due to the circumstance of Covid, a celebration of Stan and Sandra's life will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made in memory of Stan and Sandra Knowles to First Tee.

First TeeP.O. Box 3055Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32004www.firsttee.org