Vireta Mae Tomlinson Knight of Gruver, Texas, also known by her family and friends variously as Mom, Granny, GiGi, Fretter, Aunt Fretter, and even Fire Eater on occasion, passed peacefully into the arms of her loving Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday afternoon at approximately 6:00 p.m., in her room at Crown Point Health Suites in Lubbock, Texas, following a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and a recent Covid-19 infection.

Graveside services will be on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 2:00p.m.  at the Gruver Cemetery in Gruver, with Rev .Tom Fuller assisted by Rev. Steve Chappell officiating.   Arrangements are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman.  Viewing  will be at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 8 ^th from 9:00a.m. until 4:00p.m. and the United Methodist Church in Gruver on Tuesday , December 8, 2020 from 5 p.m. -to 7p.m.

Due to COVID 19 guidelines, we will be practicing social distancing.  Services will be broadcast live on Boxwell Brothers Facebook page for those who wish to watch. There is a link on the website (boxwellbros.com) to access the Facebook page.

Vireta was born in Manhattan, Kansas, on November 5, 1926, to Roma and Elvira Tomlinson of Gruver, while Roma was taking classes at what is now Kansas State University. She often spoke of the fact that she was the only one of her siblings who was not actually born at the farmhouse. She was raised on the family farm 12 miles outside of Gruver. She met the man who was to become her husband, Carlie Knight of Tuttle Oklahoma, when he came to work for her father on the farm. They were married on August 7, 1942, in Judge Barkley's home in Spearman, Texas. They were married for 52 years until his passing on May 17, 1994. Vireta became a teacher, obtaining her degree from Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma. She taught many, if not most, of the people who now live in Gruver and the surrounding areas over a teaching career that spanned 35 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roma David and Elvira  Francis Tomlinson, her husband, Carlie, her son, Dale, her brothers, Buddy, Doc, and Glenn, and her sisters, Verna and Essie.

She is survived by her daughter, Carlita Knight Clary and her husband, Ronald J. Clary, from Georgetown, Texas; her son, Bruce Knight and his wife, Debbie Frazier Knight, from Lubbock, Texas; her granddaughter, Jeana Clary Nozykowski and her husband Jaimeson Nozykowski from Oak Cliff, Texas; her granddaughter Melinda Clary Jensen, her husband, Soren Jensen, and their son, Sebastian Jensen from Dripping Springs, Texas; her granddaughter, April Knight Vattaso, her husband Michael Vattaso, and their children, Vivianne, Olivia, and David Vattaso from Bastrop, Texas; her grandson, Aaron Knight and his son, Joshua Knight from Lubbock, Texas; her granddaughter, Amber Knight Abney, her husband Robby Abney, and their children, Hillary, Zoe, and Caleb Abney from Lubbock, Texas; her daughter-in-law, Francis Riney Knight (widow of Vireta's son, Thomas Dale Knight) of Denton, Texas; her beloved sister, Alma Jean Tomlinson McCleery, from Fresno, California, and many nieces and nephews and cousins and friends from all over the United States, and even as far away as Australia.

Donations may be made in Vireta's name to the Gruver United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

A very special thanks to Vireta's nephew, Allen Walker of Gruver, Texas, who took special care of Vireta for many years after Carlie's passing, loving and treating her like a second mother, even after she had to go live with Bruce and Debbie in Lubbock. She so loved and appreciated all that he did for her.

Special thanks to the staff, workers, directors, and health professionals at Covenant Health Center Hospital, Beyond Faith Home Healthcare, Crown Point Health Suites Skilled Nursing, Covid Unit, and Long Term Care, and Beyond Faith Hospice, for their loving care of Vireta.

My chains are gone

I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy rains

Unending love, Amazing grace