Harry L McKnight

Harry Lee McKnight, 87, of Columbia, SC, passed away on December 16, 2025. Harry was born on January 30, 1938 in Lexington, KY. He was the fourth of eight children to the late John Raymond McKnight and Mary Bell Wells McKnight. Harry was raised in Lexington and, after leaving school, joined the U.S. Navy, where he served on the USS Opportune and then the USS Ranger. “Butch,” as he was then-nicknamed, was honorably discharged in 1959.

In 1965, he married the love of his life, Regina Maguire McKnight, and together they created a large and loving family. When his young daughters playfully fought over him, each trying to call him “MY Daddy,” the nickname “Mighty” was born. It was so apt.

A glazier by trade, he worked for many years at Lexington Glass and then O’Nan Glass. A strong and dedicated family man, he rarely missed a day of work, despite working primarily outside, no matter how hot, cold or inclement the weather or how he felt, determined as he was to provide for his family. He also supported Regina in fulfilling her dream of earning a nursing degree.

While he and Regina raised their family, Harry grew a huge backyard garden. He grew so many vegetables that Regina learned to can to preserve them and could barely keep up.

Harry was a devout Catholic and faithfully attended Mass at Christ the King each week with the entire family.

He and Regina were UK men’s basketball season ticket holders and went to every game they could.

They also attended innumerable kids’ sporting events, including soccer games for all six kids. Harry coached many soccer teams and was extraordinarily patient as a coach and as a father.

Some summers, the family spent the weekends in a camper at Cave Run Lake. On those drives, Regina teasingly called him “Hot Rod Harry.” His youngest accidentally changed that to “Hot Harry” and Regina thought it was so funny that it stuck as well – she called him that for years afterward. His name later changed again when he became “Granddaddy.”

When Regina was offered the position of nurse manager of Richland Memorial’s bone marrow transplant unit, Harry supported her fully, and they relocated to Columbia, SC in 1992. They quickly found a spiritual home at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church, which they attended and supported the rest of their lives.

In Columbia, Harry worked at Premier Glass and Ace Glass before the 2001 formation of what is now McKnight and Sons Glass Company. And his name changed again, to “Papa,” with the births of his youngest grandchildren.

Harry remained a lifelong diehard UK sports fan. He had a great and playful sense of humor and loved to tease and laugh. He loved fishing (first with his brothers and friends, then with his

brothers-in-law, who were also great friends, then with his kids and grandkids), history (reading all the signs in museums), wildlife documentaries (Regina used to tease that he liked “watching big fish eat little fish”) and true crime shows (oh the Datelines the grandkids saw!). He had a sweet tooth and loved naval oranges and Royal Riviera pears.

Harry and Regina were married for over 53 years at the time of her death in 2019. He missed her terribly and their reunion must be beyond words. He was also preceded in death by son Harry Lee McKnight II, granddaughter Renée Felder and son-in-law Fred Burby. He is survived by his children, Leanne (Joe) Prendergast, Katie Burby, Patrick McKnight, Tuffy (Andrea) McKnight and Mark McKnight, 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 3 sisters, 2 brothers and a large extended family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 19, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church, 120 Marydale Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. The family will receive visitors in the Church narthex at 1:30 p.m. Funeral arrangements by Temples-Halloran.