Dorothy Sue Herzberger "Dottie" Knight, 83, passed away Wednesday, November 12, 2025 in Virginia, IL.

She was born at home in Cass County on July 16, 1942,  the daughter of Audace and  Anna (née Glenn) Herzberger and they preceded her in death. She married Jeff Knight in 1962 in Virginia, IL where they raised their family. They divorced in 2000 but remained connected through their shared love for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Cynthia Lael Knight Meisner (Carl) of Winchester, IL, Stacy Lee Knight (Kellie) of Springdale, AR, and Sylvia Lorraine Knight Stone (J.B.) of Chandlerville, IL. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Kayla Jean Knight Phair (Gary) of Springdale, AR, Anna Nicole Knight of Los Angeles, CA, Emma Katherine Lynn and Grady Knight Stone both of Chandlerville, IL; and, her beloved great-granddaughters, Penelope Rae Phair and Charlotte Holland Phair both of Springdale, AR. She is also survived by one sister, Jane Herzberger Brown (Jerry) of Columbus, OH.

Dottie was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Glenn Herzberger, Alan Herzberger (surviving wife, Margaret L. "Maggie" of Jacksonville), Vern Herzberger and Leland Herzberger, and her sister, Carolyn Herzberger Gerdes.

Dottie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Virginia for 41 years from 1964 to 2005 where she served as an Elder, organist, choir accompanist, Sunday School teacher, and vocal and handbell choir member. Formerly raised in the Virginia United Methodist Church, she later resumed membership in her home church where she served on the Administrative Council and was substitute organist, pianist and accompanist.

Besides her life of commitment to her family, Dottie worked for 31 years at Passavant Memorial Area Hospital (Jacksonville Memorial Hospital) where she was Librarian to the Passavant School of Nursing and Medical Staff and later worked in Laboratory Services, retiring in 2004. She made many lifelong friends during her years at Passavant Hospital and spoke often of the sense of community that being part of the institution brought to many. One of her favorite quotes about her vocation was that "You don't have to know everything to be a librarian, you just have to know where to find it." It was a particular highlight that her love of Passavant and its purpose was recognized in 1988 when she was named Employee of the Year. During her tenure, Dottie also established the Passavant Community Health Information Center (CHIC) which further extended hospital relationships and service into the community.

Dottie volunteered for many years at Walker Nursing Home in Virginia where she provided weekly music programs for residents. She also offered her time by serving as a substitute organist/pianist for 4 area churches. Her needs were simple and her generosity immense as she kept little for herself. She loved to laugh, played bridge at every opportunity and was an avid reader. Dottie was also a dedicated fan of Fighting Illini basketball and St. Louis Cardinals baseball, including making a once in a lifetime roadtrip with her best friend "Sunshine" Sharon Clark to see the Cardinals during spring training in Jupiter, FL. She will also be remembered as a great fan of local school sports, often serving as scorekeeper for her son and daughters' games and objectively assigning hits, wins and errors where they were earned.

Dottie graduated from Virginia High School in 1960 where she excelled in music and academics. Her fondest memories from school involved band trips, music contests and concerts, class plays and cheerleading. She attended the University of Illinois-Urbana from 1960-1963, Illinois College from 1968-1969, and the University of Illinois-Springfield (formerly Sangamon State University) where she completed her BA in Child, Family & Community Services in 1976. She also began studies toward a graduate degree in Library Science at the University of Illinois-Urbana from 1977-1978.

A memorial service will be hosted by her family at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 23, 2025 at Virginia United Methodist Church, Virginia, IL. The family will meet with friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Virginia Memorial Public Library, Cass County Food Pantry or the Alzheimer's & Dementia Foundation of America https://alzfdn.org/. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com.