Knighton Clark (28) of St. Louis and Effingham

Knighton Clark, 28, of St. Louis, MO and Effingham, IL passed away December 26, 2020 after a yearlong struggle with end stage heart failure. His grandfathers Gene Steele and Bob Bluhm, and niece Lydia Denton preceded him in death.

He moved from his home town, Effingham, IL to St. Louis in 2011 where with an upright bass which was resurrected by a friend from the trash in an alley and patched together again and again much like Knighton’s heart, he played with 4th City Rag, The Pitiful Bastards, Edgefield C. Johnston, Old Time Assault and several other St. Louis area musicians including his cousin Cody Denton who was really a brother, friend Kellen Meyer who was really a cousin and a vast circle of friends ranging from early childhood to present day who Knighton considered family.

He was also a bookseller at Left Bank Books, a barista at Park Avenue Coffee, a server at several restaurants and a bartender at a few lucky establishments. He touched many hundreds of lives in his brief time here.

He leaves behind a big, messy, broken-hearted family who loved him to the outer limits of love and then a little more. Among them are his parents Jo Anna Steele-Mooney and Jon Mooney and brothers Daegan and Braylon Mooney as well as his grandmother, Joyce Bluhm, uncles Jarek Steele (Barb Beadles) and Mike Steele (Shari), aunts Angela Brown (Ed), Theresa Bequette (Bob), Julie Ohnesorge (Jon Hoene), Sherri Mahon (Dave), and Kris Kleindienst, and cousins Cody Denton (Tonya), Ben Brantley, Kellen Meyer, Tyler Ohnesorge and Myles Baker. And so, so many more.

The love of his life, Abie Kanyuck, spent the best last day anyone could have with him, preparing meals, laughing and hugging.

He was brilliant, kind, funny, generous and gifted. He could see the best in anyone and found it in everyone. He was a mozzarella stick enthusiast, Rubik’s cube master and cat dad to his beloved Joni.

During his bonus year on this earth, he harnessed the fierce love of this family and challenged all to be their best, highest selves.

In keeping with his extraordinary spirit (and the wishes of his grief fatigued mother), please consider a gift to Tenth Life Cat Rescue (tenthlifecats.org/donate or Tenth Life Cat Rescue PO Box 63187 St. Louis, MO 63163) in lieu of flowers.

Due to 2020 being a complete train wreck, the COVID-19 pandemic prevents the family from having a public indoor memorial at this time, but they are planning an outdoor celebration in the spring to be held in St. Louis for all who wish to attend. Date TBA.