Margaret Olive Root McKnight

Margaret Olive Root McKnight, age 86, passed away on December 10, 2025, in Taylorsville, Utah. She was born in Cedar City, Utah, on June 6, 1939, to Maxwell and Olive Root. Margaret was cherished by her older brother, Maurice, who had spent ten years wishing, hoping, praying, and even asking Santa Claus for a little sister.

Margaret graduated from Milford High School in 1956 and LDS Business College in 1957. She married her high school sweetheart, Karl Michael McKnight, on June 27, 1958, in the St. George LDS Temple. She retired from the University of Utah Department of Surgery’s Billing Department in 1996 and later from Technical Support Systems in 2015. She also worked as an usher at the University of Utah for many years.

A devoted University of Utah fan, Margaret loved cheering on all U of U sports—especially gymnastics, basketball, and football. She also found great joy in watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports and school activities. She loved to travel and was always eager to join her children on their adventures.

Margaret served faithfully as the librarian for the Taylorsville 28th Ward for many years and served a Family Church History mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Joseph Smith Building on Temple Square in Salt Lake City from August 2005 to August 2007.

Her family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Legacy Village Memory Care and Renew Hospice in Taylorsville for the kind and loving care they provided during the last five years of her life.

Margaret is survived by her five children: Karl S. (Carrie) McKnight, Kelli M. Jensen, Maxine M. (Kevin) Newsome, Robert S. (Lori) McKnight, and Margo Moaremoff; 27 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Kay (Michael) Rich. She was preceded in death by her husband, Karl Michael McKnight; her parents, Maxwell D. and Olive Z Root; her brother, Maurice Root; her sister, Linda Root; and her son-in-law, Michael James Jensen.

We “Love ya” Mom!

You may visit with the family at a viewing on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Redwood Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah. An additional viewing will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m., all at Memorial Redwood Mortuary. Interment will follow at Memorial Redwood Cemetery at the same address.