Joan Stout Knight

Joan Stout Knight died of complications from ovarian cancer on January 12 at her home in Raleigh. A native of Asheboro, Joan championed the fight for ovarian cancer awareness and fundraising for research at Duke the past four and a half years since her diagnosis. She enjoyed Christmas at home surrounded by family, and spent the last few weeks with friends and family. She received a kidney/pancreas transplant at Duke in 1998 to cure kidney failure and her Type 1 diabetes which allowed her lead a normal life, including sporting about in her teal BMW convertible with the license TEAL4LIF promoting ovarian cancer awareness. Joan was employed at SAS Institute in Cary for over 20 years as an editor, specializing in indexes. She was recognized internationally for her work, and also created indexes for Fodors, CQ Press and others. She graduated from Asheboro High School in 1973 and went on to be a Music and Sociology double major at Guilford College. Joan met her husband Jim there in the Choir Room in 1973. An accomplished pianist, Joan taught piano in Asheboro after college and was a pianist at Back Creek Friends before moving to the Triangle. She loved sheepdog herding with her border collies, and will be dearly missed by fellow handlers and her dogs Brook, Dhu and Jethro. She is survived by husband Jim Knight, parents Juanita and Carl Stout of Asheboro, brother Eddie Stout and wife Verna of Asheboro along with nephew Ed Tyler Stout and family of Thomasville. A memorial service and burial will celebrate her life in Asheboro at her lifelong family church Back Creek Friends Meeting on Saturday, January 22 at 2 p.m., followed by a gathering of friends in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ovarian Cancer Research at Duke through www.ovarianawareness.org or to the Back Creek Friends Church Building Fund, 147 Back Creek Church Rd., Asheboro, NC 27205-2312.