Reginia Renee Knowles  passed on to be with her savior in the early morning hours on Christmas Eve 2022. She was born on May 31, 1967, in Portland Oregon. Unlike other children, she grew up in a very difficult environment. often having to defend her siblings against bullies and other abuse. Their family moved to the Willows, Ca area, and Reginia and her three siblings were eventually removed from the home of her biological mother, and placed in foster care. Reginia would eventually be placed in the permanent foster home of Ron and Barbara Estes. The difficulties and hardships of her childhood would prove to shape her outlook on life, and eventually be used by the Lord as she ministered to others of similar difficult upbringings.

At the age of 14, Reginia trusted the Lord Jesus as her Savior while attending summer camp at Lassen Pines Bible Camp. Reginia's foster family was attending Willows Baptist Church, where she would meet John Knowles at the age of 17. John Knowles insists that at the age of 19, Reginia made the best decision of her life by marrying him...J/K, he didn't say that. John and Reginia were married on June 21, 1986 and eventually settled in Burney with their 3 girls and 3 boys.

Given her difficult and troubled upbringing, Reginia struggled to have a “normal” relationship with some of her children. While this caused some significant tensions during the younger and teenage years, many of the children would come to realize that she “mothered” them in the best way she knew how, and considering the tools she was NOT given, this was pretty extraordinary. She had to take the awful experiences of her childhood, and through the work of our Lord Jesus, allow them to be turned into something that the Lord could use to help her be so much more of a mother than any of the poor examples she was shown as a child.

Because of God's redemptive work in her life, the following are some of the things that her children were able to say about her.

"She was a caring person, always taking time to reach out to others, and especially had a heart for the hurting."

"She was sweet, kind, caring, and compassionate, easy to talk to."

"She was always available for me to call her and get advice about life, and to share my fears and concerns with. She had a friendly love for everyone around her."

"She was never good with words, but would often find a way to get the point through to me regardless. She was my tender cornerstone."

"She encouraged me to do my best no matter the results. She always showed love even when I messed up. I could bring any problem to her and she would help me."

"She loved helping people, especially those who had been through similar things as her. She was a generous person."

She was good at any crafty thing she put her mind to, always trying new creations or ideas. She made her best messes around the house when pursuing a new craft idea she had. For many years she made stamp cards for “shut-ins” on the KVIP radio program, bringing hope and joy into the lives of many folks who desperately needed it, and who were in fact complete strangers to her. She also sacrificed her time by making matching outfits for her children and husband every year for Easter and often for Christmas. She had a heart for the broken and hurting and was a very generous woman.

I greatly appreciate the hand making, resourceful, DIY mentality and ability that she had and passed down to her daughters. All of the skills that she taught her children have greatly benefited our family and are now being passed down to her grandchildren, and will be passed on even further.

The last several years Regina had the opportunity of experiencing the spiritual enrichment of “Tres Dias”, a retreat that the church takes part in. As a result of this her husband John noted how a remarkable change took place in their marriage, and she began to be able to deal more with the issues of the past. This allowed for their relationship to reach a much deeper level of intimacy and love. She was his light in dark times, his oxygen when he couldn't breathe, she taught him to love no matter how badly he was treated. She welcomed all with a smile that could light up a dark room, and showed love to so so many.

Regina's legacy is one of using her own difficulties, through the redemptive work of Christ, to pour love and service into others. And she didn't need to know them either. Often it was complete strangers that were the beneficiaries of her generosity. Her hospitality and heart for people will carry on for many years to come, as it is still in the hearts of all of us!

You are loved, and you will be missed so very much!

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