Herman Elvin Knight Jr., 82, of Prairie Village, KS, passed away Thursday, July 30th, 2026, with his loving wife, Judi, at his side. Elvin was born on July 14, 1944 in Owensboro, Kentucky to Sarah and Herman Knight, with his sister, Sally, and brother, Eric, following after.

He became a Cub Scout when he was eight years old and worked his way through the ranks of scouting to become an Eagle Scout, was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, and earned the Scouting God and Country Award. Elvin and his son-in-law, Evan, a fellow scout, kept their scouting ceremony skills sharp by regularly reciting the Boy Scout Law: A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Elvin attended the University of Kentucky for both undergraduate and law school, receiving a degree in accounting and a Juris Doctor. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves Judge Advocate General Corps from 1968 to 1977. When his first grandchild, Lucy, was born he again stepped into the role of “Captain,” choosing it as his personal grandfatherly moniker and is perhaps his most esteemed title. He pursued a post graduate degree in tax law from the University of Missouri Kansas City. The firm of Hillix, Brewer, Hoffhaus, Whitaker & Horner is where he began his career, often bringing his daughters Kristin and Lindsay to work on Saturdays, with extra diapers stashed in a file cabinet and employing the hum of the copy machines during naptime in the copy room to lull them to sleep. Elvin worked at several other law firms throughout his career and ultimately retired from Spencer Fane. He then joined The Midwest Trust Company as Managing Director of Wealth and Family Strategies and became a proud coworker of his daughter, Kristin. In his tenure at Midwest Trust, he could regularly be seen walking down the hall to Kristin’s office for a visit, often being told by her colleagues she was in a meeting, again. As a man who strictly adhered to routine and protocol, even during the pandemic, Elvin arrived pressed and dressed, briefcase in hand, Monday through Friday to his Midwest Trust Company office desk, despite the suggestion to work from home and much to his family’s dismay. The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel was fortunate to have him as a Fellow, he was listed as a “Best Lawyers in America” Trusts and Estates from early in his practice, and he was inducted in the Estate Planning Society of Kansas City 2016 Hall of Fame. His grandchildren, Lucy, Max, Kate and Alice acquired keen reading skills under their grandfather’s tutelage by searching for his name in magazines to find his Super Lawyer listings. Elvin was a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars in Missouri and Kansas, and volunteered on numerous Missouri Bar advisory committees. As children, Kristin and Lindsay learned early speech writing skills as he prepared and practiced in his home office, where they sat next to him and listened to the dictaphone tape advancing and rewinding.  As a second generation member of the Country Club Christian Church, he was an Elder and served in numerous capacities including teaching grade school Sunday school classes, serving as president of his Sunday school class, Chairman of the Endowment Committee and a member of the Board of Directors.  In between life in law offices, enjoying time as Captain of his sailboat, watching Kristin’s and Lindsay’s soccer games and choir concerts, driving carpools, doing yard work, and cheering on grandchildren at swim meets, theatre performances and lacrosse games, Elvin left daily notes on paper kitchen napkins embossed with coffee cup stains and breakfast remnants for Judi after he had left for work, sharing love, inspiration, Dad jokes, scripture, and anticipation for their next adventure. Judi accumulated 2,444 napkin notes, with the earliest dating from 2013. “Maybe snow,” Love Elvin. “Glad you are back,” Love Elvin. “Be safe,” Love Elvin. “Please conserve your dishes, bowls and glasses,” Love Elvin. “It looks like rain, dear,” Love Elvin. “One more wakeup,” Love El, which meant one more day until vacation. “We have a new family member,” Love Elvin, upon the arrival of another grandchild. “I’m sorry,” Love Elvin, because he and Judi knew how to make a marriage work as evidenced by 58 years of marriage. Some of his most treasured moments were sailing in the Caribbean, skiing in Colorado, bicycling in Burgundy and all the excitement of a very crowded house every Christmas morning. To know him was to admire him through one of the relationships which he held in the highest of esteem: Husband, Dad, son, big brother, uncle, neighbor, friend, colleague, church member, or grandfather (Captain). Above all else, Elvin was a gentleman, always gracious, witty, insightful and considerate of others. He is survived by his wife Judi Knight, daughters Kristin (Patterson) and Lindsay (Reid); sons-in-law: Evan Patterson and Alasdair Reid; grandchildren Lucy, Max, Katherine (Kate), and Alice, and later in life chosen daughter Pamela (Ludwig), her husband Steven and their daughter Madeline. All have been recipients of Elvin’s grace, wit, insight and consideration.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 5th at Country Club Christian Church at 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64113. To acknowledge our appreciation for the loving care and kindness shown to Captain, donations may be made to Kansas City Hospice House and Palliative Care at www.kchospice.org/donate and Country Club Christian Church at https://www.cccckc.org/give/