Jean Giedd McKnight died on Jan.,10, 2019. She was born in
Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Mabel and Robert Giedd. The family
moved to St. Petersburg from Virginia in the early 1930’s. Jean
graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1944. She was
selected as one of the Webb City Poster Girls, modeling and doing
promotional work for “Doc” Webb and the City of St. Petersburg.
She volunteered for the Red Cross during WW2 while attending
St. Petersburg Jr. College, and before leaving to attend
Westhampton in Virginia and FSU. She was a member of Kappa
Alpha Theta sorority as are her daughter and granddaughter.
She married Robert B. McKnight, a longtime beau and high
schoolmate in July,1947. They lived in Gainesville while Robert
completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida.
They returned to St. Petersburg where they raised their 4
children. Jean was a member of the Junior League and did
volunteer work especially with disadvantaged children. She was
also a member of the Debutante Club, the Garden Club
(Lakewood Circle) and was active in Girl and Boy Scouting. In
1972, they moved to College Station, Texas where Jean was an
active hospital volunteer before retiring back to Florida in 1991.
Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Robert. Survivors
include daughter, Betsy and sons Patrick , Casey, and Tom; sister
Lola; grandchildren Matthew, Amanda, Casey, Tyson, Ali, Caroline and
Kyle and 10 great grandchildren.
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