Marla Mary Knecht was born January 16, 1955 in Enid, Oklahoma. She was the fifth of nine children of Warren Jacob Knecht and Lorraine Marie (Lee) Knecht. She died on December 5, 2016 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Marla was born prematurely and weighted only one pound, thirteen ounces at birth. Complications from her premature birth caused her to be partially blind. Her parents and family did not allow this handicap to dampen her spirit and she remained cheerful all her life. Marla enjoyed reading and music.
Marla was a graduate of the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She played the saxophone and sang chorus at the school. She is also a graduate of Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind where she became certified as a medical transcriptionist.
Marla married Larry Gene Wilson on October 29, 1976 and they were divorced July 16, 1980.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Marla is survived by her eight brothers and sisters: Paul Knecht and wife, Linda of Perry, Oklahoma; Linda Arfele and husband, Frank of Houston, Texas; Katherine Becker and husband, Steve of Sherwood, Arkansas; Steve Knecht and wife, Joan of Rancho Cucamonga, California; Dr. Jim Knecht and wife, Beckie of Santa Barbara, California; Laura Ariail of Edwardsville, Illinois; Ron Knecht and wife, Jacque of Jenks, Oklahoma; and Joan Huddleston and husband, John of Los Angeles, California. She also has numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews that survive her.
Recitation of the Rosary will be said at 6:00pm, Friday, December 9, 2016 in the Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home Chapel, Enid, Oklahoma. Visitation with family and friends will follow. The graveside service will be 11:30am Saturday, December 10, 2016 in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Enid, Oklahoma with Reverend Aaron Foshee officiating. Burial, next to her parents, will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be given to Oklahoma School for the Blind or your favorite charity through Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home.
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