Rebecca Emelie Forrester Knight, 75, a long-time resident of Baton Rouge, died peacefully in her sleep on April 8, 2016 following a neurological illness. Becky was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 11, 1940 to Lewis Kilbourne Forrester and Rebecca Virginia Atkinson. She graduated from Shreveport Byrd High School in 1958 where she was a member of the Pep Squad (Drum Corps) and an ROTC Sponsor. She also attended Camp Fern regularly, where she was a counselor. In December 1959, she made her debut with the Demoiselle Club of Shreveport, and was a maid at the Holiday in Dixie Cotillion Court in the Spring 1961. She attended Southern Methodist University where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, and graduated with a B.A. degree in education in 1962.While a senior at S.M.U. she met her husband-to-be, Gary Knight, then from Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Gary was in his first year at the S.M.U. School of Law. They were married in the evening of November 24, 1962 at the Church of Saint John Berchmans in Shreveport. After her marriage, Becky taught second grade in the Dallas school system while Gary completed his legal education. Following his graduation, the couple moved to Pasadena, California where Gary began law practice with a Los Angeles law firm. Becky gave birth to their first two sons, Kevin and David, in Pasadena, in 1965 and 1967. She continued her life-long interest in art by studying to be a docent for the Los Angeles Art Museum. In 1968, Gary left the law practice to take a position on the law faculty of the L.S.U. Law School. Becky had many relatives in Baton Rouge, and they settled into a long tenure there where Becky delivered their third son, Jonathan. She enjoyed accompanying Gary on many of his professional trips in the United States and abroad.Becky followed up on her interest in art and art history by engaging in several pursuits including painting and jewelry creation. She also was an active puppeteer with the Junior League of Baton Rouge.When Gary retired from the law faculty in 1985, they moved to Austin, Texas. Gary pursued his electronic information publishing business he created while still in Baton Rouge, and they settled down to an empty nest as Kevin attended Harvard, David enrolled at L.S.U., and Jonathan matriculated at Colorado College. The boys married, and beginning in 1996, six grandchildren: Emelie, Taylor, Benjamin, Victoria, Sarazen and Milo were added to the family. In 2003, Becky and Gary built a home near Driftwood, Texas. Becky participated in community activities in Wimberley, Texas where Gary was active as a member of the Wimberley Education Foundation board and the Wimberley Village Library District board.On November 24, 2012, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Becky was thrilled by the presence of her family and by the celebration they presented. Becky is survived by her husband, Gary; sisters Susan and Mary; sons Kevin, David, and Jonathan; their wives Yolanda, Jennifer and Sarah; grandchildren Emelie, Taylor, Benjamin, Victoria, Sarazen, and Milo; and her soulmate of 70 years, Susan Marshall. Interment will be in the mausoleum at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport, Louisiana at a later date.

Published in TheAdvocate.com from Apr. 8 to Apr. 11, 2016