Brewster Knott, Sr.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Brewster James Knott, Sr. will be held on Monday August 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church. The interment will take place at St. Leo the Great Catholic Cemetery in Leonville. Rev. Msgr. Keith J. DeRouen will celebrate the Mass.

Brewster James Knott, Sr., 70, of Opelousas, died August 5, 2011 following a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family.

Born June 25, 1941 to Dudley and Mephilia Guidry Knott, he was raised on the familys farm in Cecelia, Louisiana, but began to work on a dredge boat when he was sixteen years old. Working on the river would become his career.

Within a few years, Capt. Knott was promoted from deckhand to operator, pilot and finally a captain licensed as a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer by the Coast Guard. Over the next 52 years, his promotions landed him with the Kirby Marine Inland Corporation as a towboat captain. Capt. Knott was routinely recognized by Kirby officials for his excellence in performance and his outstanding safety record, moving millions of tons of cargo safely throughout his career.

During his career, Capt. Knott successfully operated boats and barges on the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio River systems and Intracoastal waterways. He moved petroleum products in and out of the Ports of Houston, Beaumont and Port Arthur and through the rivers to the North.

A consummate professional, Capt. Knott was known for his dedication to his duty and the pride he exhibited in his boat and his crew. Following a brief illness in 2005, Capt. Knott returned to Kirby and was given command of the newest boat in their fleet, the MV Robert G. Stone.

Capt. Knott was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Chester and Webster. He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Genevieve Stelly Knott, his children Tammy L. Knott, Lt. Col. Ret. U.S. Army, Ricky and Tina Knott, Jeff and Nicole Knott Arena and Brewster J. Knott, Jr., his grandchildren April Charles, Clint Knott, Leah Knott, Amanda Knott and Ethan Arena and his brothers Lester Knott and Buster Knott.

Visitation will be held on Sunday August 7, 2001 from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm and will reopen on Monday at 8:00 am. A rosary will be recited on Sunday at 7:00 pm.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LafondArdoin Funeral Home of Opelousas has been entrusted with the arrangements. 337 9422638

Visitation

Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home
2845 S. Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Sunday, August 7, 2011
5:00pm until 9:00pm

Service

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church
2125 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, August 8, 2011
1:00pm

Cemetery

St. Leo the Great
126 Church Road
Leonville, LA  70551