Leon Douglas "Doug" McKnight

Leon Douglas McKnight, 72, son of the late L.E. McKnight, Jr. and Mary Margaret Lanier McKnight, died Friday, September 5, 2025.

Doug graduated from Buies Creek High School and attended Campbell University prior to serving in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, he worked for McKnight’s Drug Store in Coats before beginning a career in construction. He was a skilled builder and spent much of his career building and repairing beach homes on Topsail Island.

Doug craved the outdoors, and from childhood helped his grandfather farm and garden. He was still gardening at the time of his death. He was an avid blue grass music fan and made a yearly trip to MerleFest with his brother David. As a younger man, Doug enjoyed two-stepping and line dancing and riding his Harley. He rode with a local motorcycle club and on occasion with the Patriot Guard, honoring deceased veterans.

Most of all, Doug loved his family and family traditions. He looked forward to any occasion for gathering with family and friends and held a special bond with the Buies Creek families he grew up with. Some of his favorite memories were of trips to Topsail Beach with cousins and family friends.

Survivors include his brother, David McKnight and wife Jan of Angier; sister, Sarah Boone and husband Holt of Whispering Pines; nephews, Miles McKnight of Angier, and Wes Boone and wife Natalie Romig of Seattle, Washington; nieces, Kristen Lohnes and husband Jer of Virginia Beach, and Emily Boone and husband Hunter Soper of Kitchener, Ontario; great nephew and niece Mac and Evie Boone Soper.

A graveside service will be held at the Buies Creek Cemetery at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 27, followed by a reception at Memorial Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Wilkes Community College Doc Watson Student Emergency Fund at https://merlefest.org/about/ or to Memorial Baptist Church, Bereavement Committee, PO Box 485, Buies Creek, NC 27506.

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