Zella Madolyn Evans Knight

Born with a song in her heart and music in her soul, Zella Madolyn Knight (84) of Moab, passed away at her home on May 16, 2007 surrounded by her family.

Madolyn was born in Monticello, Utah to Thomas Henry and Mary Ellen Christensen Evans. She was a graduate of Monticello High School.

On February 15, 1947, she married Arthur Ray (Hardwater) Knight. To this union, Madolyn brought two children: Don and Jeri Ann. They became the parents of daughters Ginger, Kathryn, and Helen and son Arthur Robert.

Their marriage later solemnized in the Monticello Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On November 22, 1998, Hardwater passed away.

Madolyn was a member of the LDS Church, and most of her service was playing the organ and piano. She started playing in church when she was 12 years old and performed this service on and off up until she was in her late 70’s. She played for Sunday School, Primary, Mutual, Relief Society, and many funerals.

When she was in her youth, her family had a band. As the children grew, the band became Madolyn on the piano, her sister Anna on the drums, and her father Tom on the violin. They played for the dances in Monticello, out east of town, in the one room schoolhouses in La Sal, and once even in Paradox, Colorado.

They would go all over the La Sal Mountains on what was practically nothing but a cow trail in her brother Donald’s Model-A Ford. Madolyn enjoyed playing clarinet, saxophone, ukelele, and accordion, as well as the piano.

Madolyn was a very talented person. Because of her musical talent with the piano and being able to pick out the melody, she was asked to help write the Monticello High School song.

She learned to sew, and she could make her own patterns. After she married, she made many outfits for her nieces as well as for her own children.

She was talented as an artist, she could draw and paint very well, make quilts, was a great cook, and even liked to play the early video games.

Madolyn’s green thumb was very evident when you drove in their yard or walked into the house full of beautiful plants. When she and Hardwater decided to build her home, her father did the brick work and she helped.

Madolyn worked at many different jobs. She worked for the telephone company as an operator in Monticello and Thompson.

She worked at Hill Air Force base in northern Utah. She apprenticed to style hair, and did it for several years.

She was a fantastic cook and worked in several cafes and restaurants in Moab. She prepared many a fine banquet with the ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was asked to play the piano for the music teacher at the high school which she enjoyed for 14 years.

Her sewing talents help make many, many costumes for the theater productions. During practices, she would sit at the piano and play for Mr. Bowthorpe, then when he would start staging, she would turn to her sewing machine and sew till he needed her again.

Madolyn’s generosity to family, friends, and strangers was unmeasurable. The door was always open to anyone who came. If there was a need, Madolyn and Hardwater would give what they could. In their later years, Madolyn and Hardwater loved to spend time with their children and grand children, those at home as well as traveling around visiting those that lived away.

She is survived by her children Jeri Ann (Merald) White, of St. George, UT; Ginger (Garold) Beddoes, of Payson, UT; Kathryn (Dennis) Wilberg, Helen Knight, and Robert (Kathy) Knight, all of Moab; 18 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren, with one on the way. She is also survived by three nieces that were very close to her: Mary Lou Kosanke, Caroline (Babe) Warren, and Claudia Ketron.

Madolyn is preceded in death by her husband, son Don Lyman, and great-grandson Morgan Ing. She is also preceded by her parents and all her siblings.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2007 at the Kimmerle Funeral Home (36 S 100 W, Moab) from 7 to 9 p.m. Viewing before the funeral on Friday at the LDS Stake Center, 701 Locust Lane, starting at noon. The funeral begins at 1 p.m.