Jacqueline Skyles McKnight
Posted: 12/26/05
Jacqueline Skyles McKnight was born on March 23, 1927, in Los Angeles, California to John E. Skyles and Flavia Sweet Skyles formerly of Whitefish, Montana. Many summer months were spent in the Whitefish area. Her grandmother Catherine was a nurse and medicine held a special place in Jackie’s heart. During World War II she began studying medicine. In her free time she entertained the troops in a USO troop, where she sang, played the ukulele, danced the hula and joined the rest of the troop in synchronized swimming, like Esther Williams.
Her life changed at 4 a.m. on April 7, 1946. She met an MWR chief who picked the troop up to perform at La Jolla Navel Base. His name was William Virgil McKnight. By the end of the day they had made a connection. She always called him Chief and the rank and nickname stayed. They were married on Jan. 7, 1950, after she finished nurse’s training in San Francisco. After the Korean War, Chief was sent to Butte as a recruiter and upon finishing his 20 years in the Navy, Montana became their permanent home. The family enjoyed the great outdoors camping and fishing.
Jackie worked at Butte Community Hospital, which later became known as Saint James Community Hospital. She finished her time at Saint James as Assistant Director of Nursing. She also taught nursing through MSU at Saint James.
She took a two-year break to go back to California to receive her Masters in Nursing Administration, receiving that degree in June of 1960.
In 1965 she was hired as one of the first department employees for the State of Montana licensing of hospitals and nursing homes for Medicaid/Medicare. She worked in that department, eventually becoming bureau chief and retiring in 1988. She lived in her home enjoying her retirement and was an avid artist. She also enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother. After the death of her husband Chief in 1996 and her mother in 1998 she was always in the company of her dogs.
She became ill in the spring of 2005. She came home to be with her family and dog Misty Girl. She died of complications of one of her illnesses on Dec. 23, 2005, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her family and all the family dogs.
The family wishes to thank all their friends for the support they have given over the past year. They would also like to thank the staff of Saint Peter’s Hospital, Home link, Hospice and Home Ox for their support during this year, as well as the staff of Helena Physicians for their help with Mom.
In addition to her husband, Jackie was preceded in death by a son and grandson, William V. McKnight II. Jackie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Flavia and Jack Morgan of Helena; six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren
A graveside service will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Harrison on Wednesday, December 28 at 1:00 p.m. Reverend Ed Massey of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. A time to remember her will be held at Calvary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1225 Knight Street following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials are sent to Calvary Baptist Church Remodeling Fund or the Yellowstone Baptist College, 1515 S. Shiloh Road Billings, Montana 59106 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Retz Funeral home is in care of the arrangements.
Jacqueline Skyles McKnight was born on March 23, 1927, in Los Angeles, California to John E. Skyles and Flavia Sweet Skyles formerly of Whitefish, Montana. Many summer months were spent in the Whitefish area. Her grandmother Catherine was a nurse and medicine held a special place in Jackie’s heart. During World War II she began studying medicine. In her free time she entertained the troops in a USO troop, where she sang, played the ukulele, danced the hula and joined the rest of the troop in synchronized swimming, like Esther Williams.
Her life changed at 4 a.m. on April 7, 1946. She met an MWR chief who picked the troop up to perform at La Jolla Navel Base. His name was William Virgil McKnight. By the end of the day they had made a connection. She always called him Chief and the rank and nickname stayed. They were married on Jan. 7, 1950, after she finished nurse’s training in San Francisco. After the Korean War, Chief was sent to Butte as a recruiter and upon finishing his 20 years in the Navy, Montana became their permanent home. The family enjoyed the great outdoors camping and fishing.
Jackie worked at Butte Community Hospital, which later became known as Saint James Community Hospital. She finished her time at Saint James as Assistant Director of Nursing. She also taught nursing through MSU at Saint James.
She took a two-year break to go back to California to receive her Masters in Nursing Administration, receiving that degree in June of 1960.
In 1965 she was hired as one of the first department employees for the State of Montana licensing of hospitals and nursing homes for Medicaid/Medicare. She worked in that department, eventually becoming bureau chief and retiring in 1988. She lived in her home enjoying her retirement and was an avid artist. She also enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother. After the death of her husband Chief in 1996 and her mother in 1998 she was always in the company of her dogs.
She became ill in the spring of 2005. She came home to be with her family and dog Misty Girl. She died of complications of one of her illnesses on Dec. 23, 2005, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her family and all the family dogs.
The family wishes to thank all their friends for the support they have given over the past year. They would also like to thank the staff of Saint Peter’s Hospital, Home link, Hospice and Home Ox for their support during this year, as well as the staff of Helena Physicians for their help with Mom.
In addition to her husband, Jackie was preceded in death by a son and grandson, William V. McKnight II. Jackie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Flavia and Jack Morgan of Helena; six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren
A graveside service will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Harrison on Wednesday, December 28 at 1:00 p.m. Reverend Ed Massey of Calvary Baptist Church will officiate. A time to remember her will be held at Calvary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1225 Knight Street following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials are sent to Calvary Baptist Church Remodeling Fund or the Yellowstone Baptist College, 1515 S. Shiloh Road Billings, Montana 59106 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Retz Funeral home is in care of the arrangements.
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