C.L. "Monte" Knight, 80-year-old Oklahoma City resident and former Seminole resident, passed from this life Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

He was born Sept. 4, 1938, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, to parents Orval Leonard Knight and Ruth Neoma (Mayhue) Knight.

Monte attended school in Bowlegs, New Lima and Seminole.

It was 1955 when Monte and 10 of his high school classmates joined the United States Navy. They went to boot camp in San Diego, California, together.

Monte was assigned to the USS Helena, a heavy cruiser whose home port was Long Beach. The Helena was the flagship for the Seventh Fleet, operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.

Monte was in supply and earned the rank of SK3. He spent a navy year in Beeville, Texas, and another 2 years in the reserve and was honorably discharged in 1961 with six years of service.

He met and married the beautiful Izetta Villines, and they were married in 1960 in Seminole. Izetta worked for Southwestern Bell with 40 years of service.

Monte went on to barber college in Oklahoma City in 1959. He owned and operated shops in Ada, the "Aldridge Barber Shop," and Oklahoma City at 14th and Classen and 63rd and Meridian. He eventually retired from his shop Mayfair West in Oklahoma City.

Monte was a very active member of the Kiwanis Club. He attended Kiwanis in Seminole and first joined in Ada in 1970. He was a past president of the Mayfair Kiwanis Club and had also served four terms as treasurer.

Monte leaves to cherish his many memories his wife of 59 years, Izetta Ann (Villines) Knight, of the home; one son, Michael Gregory Knight of Oklahoma City; and a host of other family and friends.

Monte was preceded in death by his parents, Orval and Ruth Knight; his father-in-law, Newt Villines; his mother-in-law, Esta Villines; and three brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, with military honors. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole.