Dustin Ellis Knight

“So we are always confident, because we know that while we are living in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight. We are confident, and we would prefer to leave the body and to be at home with the Lord.” -- 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Dustin Ellis Knight, 38, of Millbrook, Alabama, went home to the Lord he loved so much on January 28, 2021. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 15, 1982, to his doting parents, Don and Ginger Knight, Dustin grew up in Prattville, where he was known from a tender age to always put everyone else before himself. Even as a little boy, he reached out to neighbor children who were hungry or alone, and brought them to his parents’ home to be sure their tummies were full and their hearts were happy. Throughout his passionate life, when Dustin noticed folks in need, he gave them what he had, be it money or food, or time and love. He’d gladly give you the shirt right off his back, even if it was sweaty and dirty, and he’d be a friend for life. Family was always at the top of the list of things that mattered to Dustin, and he counted his grandparents as the cream of his crop. His paternal grandparents, Dolphus and Mary Jane Knight, were overjoyed to welcome such a lively baby boy into their clan, and right away, he stole their hearts. Dolphus was known to Dustin as Papa, and they were cut from the same cloth. Papa never missed a ballgame where his grandson was playing, and he was always his biggest fan. Even when Papa was fighting cancer in its toughest stages, and was advised not to attend, Papa summoned every ounce of strength he had left, got in his own car and drove himself to his grandson’s game to cheer him on. When Papa passed away, the only thing that Dustin requested was his Papa’s rocking chair recliner, as it represented such depth of love for a grandson left to carry on his Papa’s name. Dustin’s paternal grandmother, Mary Jane Knight, who he knew as Grandma, led him to be a follower of Christ, taking her first little grandson along with her to Bible class and worship every Sunday morning at First Baptist Church in Prattville. Grandma welcomed three more grandchildren in her life, and until her passing in 2012, she took every opportunity to whisper to Dustin that of all the others, he was the Sweetest One. Years later, he would find out that Grandma had of course adored all four grandchildren, and had been whispering the same blessing to each one since they were born. While he was shocked to learn that he had unknowingly shared such an honor all along, he kept her influence close at heart, and the Bible verse that settled inside his soul was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Dustin was also close to his maternal grandparents, George and Edith Shores of Eclectic. Grandma Shores drove him to karate lessons twice a week, and always waited right there for her special grandson to finish his class and proudly show her his new moves. She took him to meet up with Papa George, and they spent many a happy afternoon fishing, telling stories and soaking in the glory of each other’s company. Dustin was a spirited Alabama fan and enjoyed a friendly rivalry with his beloved little sister, Donica, who attended Auburn. Roll Tide Roll Champ! He loved her unconditionally from the moment she was born, and always spoke of her with stars in his eyes and fierce loyalty in his heart. There is no doubt that from his viewpoint, she was a reflection of their beautiful mother, Ginger, who loves them both so deeply, so humbly and gently, so truly as the Lord loves us all. Ginger fondly called him Dot, and he was the apple of a mother’s eye. As soon as his little league schedule was filled with baseball and football practices, his father, Don, lovingly nicknamed him Stanky, as he was so busy excelling in sports that there just wasn’t time for a bath in between. There was no one more proud of a son than Don Knight, and he always made room and time for his boy. Don has always been famous for his unmatched people skills, accomplished business expertise and hilarious jokes, and as the apple never falls far from the tree, Dustin soaked in his father’s talents, and success and joy became second nature to him as he helped his parents and grandparents in their family’s store, K-Bar-K. By way of his favorite Bible verse, the Good Lord did strengthen Dustin through the years. He graduated from Trinity Presbyterian High School in Montgomery, as an undeniable sports star and member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Dustin helped lead the Wildcat’s baseball team to a State Championship and represented Alabama in the Dixie Majors World Series Championship. He attended Faulkner University on a baseball scholarship, and counted his favorite privilege there as his allowance of three meals a day. Dustin earned a black belt in karate, had a great love for fishing and all sports, and claimed to have never lost an arm-wrestling contest. Years later in 2010, Dustin met the love of his life, Trisha Frith. He made her his bride in 2016, and was faithfully and happily committed to his darling new wife and their two children, April and Tyler. Trisha called him Big Daddy, and together they made a family, bound in true love, completing one another’s lives with compassion and worshipping together at the Church of the Highlands. Dustin put every ounce of his great Phillipians 4:13 strength into lifting up his wife and children in their daily lives, and his legacy will forever live on in the unmistakably precious words of his son, “He always believed in me.” A man of many more endearing nicknames, Dustin was also known to those who loved him as Doo Stang-Kee, Howdy, Kitsy, and Knight, just to name a few. He always loved to have a good time and thoroughly enjoyed light-hearted pranks, silly phone messages, goofy dances and made-up songs to sing to his sweetheart love. He just loved to laugh, and to bring others into that feeling of joy. His laugh will echo forever in the hearts of those who were blessed enough to know him. To put it simply, Dustin Ellis Knight loved his life and everyone in it. He will always be remembered as a devoted husband to his “Trisher,” Trisha Frith Knight, loving father to April and Tyler, cherished son to his parents Donald Ellis Knight and Ginger Shores Knight, and loving brother to his sister, Donica and her husband, Wesley Holdman. He is survived by his aunts, Susan “Gidget” Smith and Bonna Swicord, who loved him so much and were always entertained by his humor and wit. He also leaves behind his dearest cousins, Brittany Smith, Chad (Ashley) Smith and their daughter, Autumn, Kim Baughman, Tim Dollar, Ryan Dollar and many more. They may have been “cousins” by definition, but Dustin counted them as his brothers and sisters. He led them all in countless adventures, and created an environment where they all felt seen, heard, important, needed and celebrated, as it was his nature to seek out fun or create it from scratch, and he brought everyone he loved along with him. There would be no way to count the number of friends and colleagues who Dustin brought into his circle, and they will continue to tell the stories of this man who always gave 110%, whose heart was the biggest in the room, who never met a stranger, and knew no limits in helping others. And Dustin counted them all as family. The man who picked up groceries and medicine for his grandmother, gave his own mouthpiece to a fellow little leaguer who didn’t have one, and emptied his pockets into the hands of those in need. By Dustin’s faith, we can trust that he is, indeed, at home with the Lord, where there is no pain, no sorrow and no tears. All four grandparents, Dolphus and Mary Jane Knight and George and Edith Shores, were waiting for him there, and his legends will continue to be told and cherished here, where we carry the gift of his memory in our hearts, until we meet again…yes-sir-got-em! Funeral arrangements are being administered by Prattville Memorial Chapel & Memory Gardens in Prattville, Alabama. Visitation for Dustin will be held on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. A grave-side service will be held on Wednesday, February 3rd at 2:00 p.m. and Dustin would be honored for all friends and family to attend. The family has asked that you wear your Alabama Football attire to his service.

Dustin Ellis Knight

April 15, 1982 - January 28, 2021