SPHS Class '64 Reunion

With Sympathy

 

 

Shannon Merkel Knowlton

 

Today Shannon ended a four year battle with ovarian cancer at home on January 5, 2012 surrounded by her family. She was 65 years old.

 

She was born September 12, 1946 in Roanoke, VA, daughter of Curtis and Josephine Merkel, sister to Becky Jo, John Curtis and Celeste Tinsley. Her parents moved to St. Petersburg in 1950 and raised the children in Old North East, on 19th Ave. She attended Shorecrest Prep School and graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1964.

 

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Hayden Knowlton, her daughter Breck Moorefield (Michael), St Petersburg, and son Reed Knowlton (Bridget), Orlando. Her grandchildren are Tinsley Moorefield, Aubrey Moorefield, Collin Moorefield, Perrin Knowlton and Hayden Knowlton.

 

She was always active and competitive. Her competitive spirit was at its best on the tennis court, playing golf, racing sailboats, playing cards or pretty much anything that could be turned into a game.

 

Her passion was cooking and food. She was superbly talented in the kitchen, favoring French cuisine and watched the Food Network daily. She never missed an episode of Barefoot Contessa.

 

Traveling around the world and vacationing at the beach was also another passion of Shannon's. She grew up going to her family's house on Redington Beach and continued the tradition on Indian Rocks Beach where she vacationed with her children and grandchildren every summer. Her most memorable vacation was in 1981-82 when her family lived in the South of France.

 

For the past twenty years Shannon was a residential realtor, affiliated most recently with Smith and Associates. Memberships include the Museum of Fine Arts, Stewart Society, Christmas Belles, St Petersburg Yacht Club, Junior League Sustainers, Debutante Club and she was a life long member of St Thomas’ Episcopal Church.

 

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, January 13 at the Knowlton family home at 411 Cordova Blvd NE. Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday January 14 at St Thomas’ Episcopal Church.

Missed will be her warm smile, crazy sense of humor, her kindness and respect for others, her adventuresome spirit and endearing personality. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to St Thomas Church and the Museum of Fine Arts.

 

 

 

 

Below,  Shannon (second from Right back row) in 5th grade at Shorecrest

 

Shannon’s daughter Breck wrote a beautiful EULOGY in honor of her mother.