Mona Rae Knox, 89, of Woodlawn, Illinois, passed away at 2:05 am February 9, 2025 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon. She was born November 13, 1935 in West Frankfort, Illinois to the late William Ermon and Edith Marie (Cox) Johnson. Mona married Clyde Rayburn Knox on June 16, 1951 in Woodlawn, Illinois. They were blessed with fifty-six years of marriage before he preceded her in death on November 10, 2007.
Mona is survived by her children, Sandra McNealy of Woodlawn, Illinois, Linda Payne of Mount Vernon, Illinois, Randy Knox and wife, Tammy of Woodlawn, Illinois, Nancy Bratton and husband, Steve of Woodlawn, Illinois; grandchildren, Melissa Hoffmann and husband, Justin of Sandoval, Illinois, Melinda Baldwin of Saint Louis, Missouri, Julie Rednour and husband, Mike of Mount Vernon, Illinois, Jason Piercy and wife, Ashley of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, Matthew Knox and wife, Chelsea of San Diego, California, Thomas Knox and wife, Amy of Saint Louis, Missouri, Heather Loss and husband, Tim of Woodlawn, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Austin Hoffmann, Abree Hoffmann, Xander Baldwin, Brittany Herring, Samuel Jase Piercy, Zyla Jo Piercy, Daniel Clyde Knox, Camila Knox, Luna Knox, Payton Loss, and Gracie Loss; great-great-grandchildren, Adalynn Herring, Henley Herring, Moriah Herring, Kenzie Herring, Maebrie Herring; brother, Jerry Johnson and wife Sharion of Woodlawn, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mona was preceded in death by her grandson, Heath Bratton; brothers, Lloyd Johnson, William Johnson, and Richard Johnson; sisters, Genevieve Fanning, Shirley Elliston, and Greta Calvin; and sons-in-law, Ferrell Payne and Charlie McNealy.
Alongside her husband, Mona owned the Woodlawn Grocery Store and owned B & K Upholstery. Mona worked as a cook at Woodlawn Grade School. She was a foster grandparent at Woodlawn Grade School and the kids called her “Grandma Mona”. Mona was a member at Woodlawn Christian Church, where she had been involved in ministries for many years.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 am with Mr. Doug Junkins officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Mona’s honor to Woodlawn Fire Department or Woodlawn Christian Church (for senior citizen meals).
The service will be available via zoom at zoom.us/join. Please use the following Meeting ID: 883 2805 4491
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.