Marsha Lyniece Donathan Knowles was born October 27, 1959 to Clarence Wayne and Joyce Voncil Donathan of Crosbyton, Texas. The middle child and only daughter stuck between older brother, Lyle and younger brother, Lance.
Lyniece, or 'Niece to those who knew her, graduated from Ralls High school with the class of 1978 and went on to attend South Plains College then Texas Tech, graduating in 1984 with a degree in Education. She began her teaching career in August of 1984 at Ralls ISD teaching second grade and moved to Westbrook ISD in the fall of 2009. She retired from teaching in the spring of 2015 to pursue her passions of crafting, gardening and the all time favorite of spoiling her niece and nephews absolutely rotten.
She married the love of her life, Mike Knowles, on October 10, 2009. They spent many an evening cutting a rug to the sounds of live Texas Country Bands, traveling the country both mule back and Harley back and making their old farmhouse into a home where family and friends were always welcomed with a cup of coffee, a game of Left, Center, Right and evenings spent down at the bunk house around the old cast iron stove regaled with stories that always led to side bursting laughter and memories made.
Lyniece is proceeded in death by mother, Voncil, grandparents Mer and Pap, and niece Annie Grace. She is survived by husband, Mike, father, Wayne, step mother, Pat, brothers Lyle and Lance, step son JW, one niece, Chelsea, 5 nephews Brandt, Tanner, Cooper, Jake and Sam, two great nieces, Atlee and Chenery, one great nephew, Enzo, and countless friends who she made family of within hours of their first meetings.
Services will be held on Friday, January 31, 2 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Ralls, Texas and Saturday, February 1, at 2 pm at the First Baptist Church of Roby, Texas.
The family has requested that any memorial donations be made in her name to the Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and the American Cancer Society.