Little Rock - Mary Catherine DeClerk Knotts, 84, of Little Rock, passed away Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at her home.

She was born, May 24, 1934 in Pocahontas to the late William A and Mary A Schmidt DeClerk. She was the organist for St. Paul Catholic Church while in high school and until she married in 1955. She then became organist for St. Theresa Catholic Church in Little Rock from the early 1960s through the mid-1970s. During that same time, she also taught private piano lessons. She played for dozens of funerals and weddings as well as playing for every Sunday Mass while conducting the choir. She was a proud breast cancer survivor.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dorothy A. Fee; and brother, Bernard J. DeClerk.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Burton Ray Knotts; son, David Ray Knotts of Benton; daughters, Anna Catherine Sandstrom of Tulsa, OK and Joan Marie Traywick of Little Rock; grandchildren, Sarah D. Jameson of Coweta, OK, John D.Knotts of Russellville, Keith A. Knotts of Conway, Rachel E. Koehler of Tulsa, OK, and Jason A. Traywick of Little Rock; great grandchildren, Leah N. Jameson and Blake A. Jameson of Coweta, OK brother, Rainer DeClerk; and sister, Betty Jane Coleman.

Visitation will be on Monday, October 15, 2018 from 5-7 pm at McNabb Funeral Home Chapel with a Rosary service immediately following at 7 pm. The funeral mass will be on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 11 am at St. Paul Catholic Church with Father Leonard Ahanotu officiating. Burial will follow in St. Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be made to the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute for breast cancer at WPRCI Foundation, Attn: Breast Cancer, 4301 W. Markham St., Slot 623 F., Little Rock, AR 72205.