Funeral services for Anita Inez Heath Knouse, 97, of Livingston, Texas, will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Central Baptist Church in Livingston, Texas with Rev. Lynn Sasser officiating. Interment will follow at the Restland Memorial Park Cemetery in Livingston, Texas. Visitation will be Monday, May 25, 2026 from 5-7 p.m. at the Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston, Texas.
Anita was born January 10, 1929 to John A. and Inez Batson Heath in Normangee, Texas. Anita had one brother, Johnny, who was just 14 months older than she. Anita died peacefully in her home on May 16, 2026.
Anita met the love of her life, Herman Knouse, at LSU and they were married February 10, 1950 at the First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Herman and Anita lived in Kirbyville when Ruth Anita (Ruthie) was born in 1951. They moved to Livingston in 1953, one month before Nancy was born. Ann joined the family in 1955 and Tom in 1957.
Anita and Herman joined Central Baptist Church in July of 1953. They were devoted to the church from that moment forward. Anita taught Sunday School, sometimes with Herman, and only stopped teaching her Ladies’ Class in the last few years. Life for the Knouses often revolved around church activities.
Anita served as county home demonstration agent for one year and then taught home economics for two years at LHS. She then taught Texas history for four years at the junior high and then taught seventh and eighth grade science for several years. Her career ended teaching only seventh-graders until she retired in the 1980s.
In 1985 Anita gave blood to the Houston Area Blood Bank. That donation led to her passionate support for the blood bank. She spent many years as the local contact in Livingston.
Anita loved teaching. In 2010 she began teaching ESL classes with the SEED program at Central Baptist. Anita taught the intermediate classes at SEED and loved her students. She continued this ministry until 2023 when she said her inability to hear her students clearly and her tremoring voice hindered her speech. This program gave her much purpose and joy.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents and brother, her husband, Herman, her daughter, Ruthie, and her granddaughter Aubree Lynne Knouse.
The Knouse family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the ladies who provided exceptional loving care during Anita’s illness. Alvada Simmons, Cal Bogany, Victoria “Sweet” Lewis, Yolanda Wallace, Jettie DeWalt, Anna Wallace, Jennifer DeWalt, Katherine McClain and the staff of Harbor Hospice provided such compassion for this lengthy journey.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Center of Hope or the charity of your choice.
