Shirley Knight Gunyou passed away May 18, 2018 in Minnetonka, MN, just shy of her 97th birthday. She left this world peacefully and without any extraordinary measures taken to prolong a life well and fully lived. Born in Nelsonville, OH on June 19, 1921 to James D. (Ethel) Knight. Her family settled the Appalachian river town in 1821, and ran the first trading post. Survived by brother James G. (Clara Belle) Knight. Shirley was a strong, independent woman, well ahead of her time. She struggled to be a proper young lady for her mother, while excelling in academics and sports. As a Girl Scout leader in the 1950's and 60's, she helped many young women gain the self-confidence they needed to succeed in life. A graduate of Ohio University, she worked as a Medical Technologist during WWII. She lost her first husband when his plane crashed, and was married for 60 years to Lyman Gunyou, also a fighter pilot. Shirley and Lyman lived in Celina, OH from 1951 through 2015, where they raised two children: John (Kim) Gunyou, Minnetonka MN, and Susan (Dr. Daniel) Rains, Indianapolis, IN. Shirley had four grandchildren: Drew Toivonen, Nicole (Jason) Rothbauer, Emily (Per) Halaas and Hillary (Robert) Hughes, and four great-grandchildren (Lillian Hughes, Max Rothbauer, Hudson Hughes and Bror Halaas). She graciously embraced her inherited MN grandchildren, Kyle Robson, Jenna Robson, Paige (Anthony) Priolo, and Erica Needham. Shirley retained an unwavering devotion to her family, friends, Ohio State football and chocolate. Private services have been held; interment at North Grove Cemetery, Celina, OH. The family is deeply grateful for the care Shirley received at The Glenn, Minnetonka, and from Nancy Nixon, RN, Park Nicollet Hospice. Memorials are suggested to a hospice of the donors' choice.

Eulogy by John Gunyou:

for Mother

She was always Mother. Not ma, mom or mommy. Always Mother. The formality of that title reflected her English heritage, but belied the Hillbilly rebel in her.

She left this world after almost 97 years in it just as she wanted to – peacefully and without any extraordinary measures taken to prolong a life well and fully lived.

My favorite stories of Mother’s childhood involved her struggles to be the proper young lady her mother wanted, while suppressing her compulsion to best all the boys in academics and sports. The time she simply had to succumb to the siren call of mud puddles, rather than wait demurely on the porch in her new party dress.

The time she won all the marbles from the boys on the playground with her favorite aggie shooter. The time she was a teenage lifeguard and gave a fresh-talking fella a right cross to the jaw. Like her son, Mother never suffered fools very well.

She carried that free spirit throughout her life with a casual ease and grace uncommon among the women of her generation. Even well into her 90’s, she could quote Emily Post on any aspect of social decorum, and then plop down on the floor to join her great-grandchildren in any manner of games hardly befitting her grande dame status.

Shirley Ann Knight Ervin Gunyou outlived two husbands, both pilots in the US Army Air Corps. One who did not return from the war, and my father who did. She was born and raised in Southeastern Ohio’s Hocking Valley, in the same Appalachian town her family helped settle two centuries ago, and ran the first trading post.

Mother was a member of the balmy Knight Clan, people with a curious blend of both mildly annoying quirks and endearing qualities - traits I increasingly realize are those of my own. Her genuine affection and optimistic humor are the best of who I am, and I will always hope to honor those qualities of her character.

Mother was a woman far ahead of her time, and I will be forever grateful for the example she set for me of the value and worth of strong women. Because of her, I am a better husband, father of daughters and colleague to professional women.

As a Girl Scout leader in the 50’s and 60’s, she helped numerous young women gain the self-confidence they needed to succeed in life. I grew up thinking that active, articulate, confident women were the norm, and first began to appreciate how truly extraordinary she was when the girls of my childhood later told me how much they had always admired her.

It made me proud to be her son, and proud to learn from her how to treat and respect women. It is a debt I have long tried to repay to my wife, daughters and women friends. I only hope that someday they will think I finally got it right, and if that day ever comes, they will have Mother to thank for it.

Published on May 27, 2018