Lloyd Lee Knight

As the morning sun began to shine on July 10, 2026, Lloyd L Knight of Hammett, ID passed peacefully away at his home. His wife, Orla, was at his side. Together, Lloyd and Orla had enjoyed all of life’s rewards and faced many of life’s challenges, including Lloyd’s courageous 12-year treatment for kidney cancer. Dr. Lloyd Knight will long be remembered by those who knew him for a life spent focused on family, community growth and support, gratitude, hard work and faith

He was born in Ontario, OR on October 15, 1946, as the only child of Buck and Gertrude Knight. Buck was a ranch cowboy and Gertrude a homemaker and ranch cook. Lloyd’s childhood at Big Willow Creek, outside of New Plymouth, ID, was fondly remembered for learning to ride and rope in a loving home. He had fond memories of adventure at the annual weeklong Barker ranch cattle drive. The family moved to Richland, OR before Lloyd’s high school years and he graduated from Eagle Valley High in 1964. He attended the University of Oregon and had to transition to rainy days removed from the high desert ranching and roping community of home. When asked why he chose University of Oregon he would answer “because they gave me scholarships”. Years later he was determined to pay it forward with donations equivalent to scholarships he received that made his education possible.

While Lloyd was at Washington State University School of Veterinary Medicine, he hitched a ride to a rodeo but then found himself in need of a ride back to Pullman. A mutual friend suggested he knew a farmer’s daughter who had a car and could give him a ride to Pullman. Thus, his relationship with Orla Perkins began, that evolved into their 53-year marriage. Orla thought that early in their relationship the draw to her was she had a car and he did not! Lloyd didn’t own a car until he graduated from vet school.

A move to Mountain Home, ID in 1972 began a 40-year career in veterinary medicine. A friend and mentor suggested to Lloyd that the Mountain Home area would be a good place to start his veterinary practice, it was good advice that grew to a successful business and practice. He began to make connections in Mountain Home, Indian Cove, Bruneau and Glenns Ferry, and in 1980 built the building in Mountain Home for the growing Knight Veterinary Clinic.

Lloyd’s vocation in veterinary medicine was driven by real joy and appreciation for the people of the ranching community. Being the local vet was an opportunity to serve and be a part of that community. He loved the people he got to work with and for, and the generous spreads for lunch with the ranch crew were a great bonus.

Lloyd and Orla’s family grew with three children: Lloyd Burke, Jeff and Jenny. Lloyd was proud of his children and despite a large work schedule he rarely missed a performance, track meet, football or basketball game played at home or away. He might have been coming in hot, and a speeding ticket was awarded on the way, but he got there rain, snow or shine. Some favorite family memories include the years backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Lloyd’s dedication to serving his community extended beyond his veterinary service. He was invited to join the local hospital board in 1982, and that invitation led to over 40 years of dedicated service to community healthcare as a volunteer hospital board and committee member. After he sold his share of the Knight Veterinary Clinic in 2007, he served as the Community Process Director for the Elmore Hospital District as they navigated the big decision to join the St. Lukes network. Lloyd approached his work in community health with the same focus on compassionate and effective care that had been a hallmark of his career in veterinary medicine. The high-quality care Lloyd received from St. Luke’s in Mountain Home and Boise during his 10-year treatment for kidney cancer reflected the kind of compassionate, effective care he had hoped the merger would make available to the entire community

Lloyd and Orla enjoyed a golden window of time between retirement and the forced slowdown from his cancer. They enjoyed traveling and time with grandchildren; they were really starting to have some fun after many years of small business work that tied up a lot of weekends and evenings. As a practice of his faith, he visited friends and acquaintances who were “shut in” and in nursing homes. Lloyd approached his cancer diagnosis as an opportunity to more deeply live his faith, reinforcing to his wife and children that “how” we respond to challenges is a more accurate reflection of our faith than the challenge itself.

Lloyd is survived by his wife Orla and his children Lloyd Burke (Brenda) in Meridian, Jeff (Andrea) in Missoula, MT and Jenny Davis (Tim) in Helena, MT and grandchildren Robbie and Rori Knight (LB), Lukas, Asher and Ethan Knight (Jeff) and Cameron Davis (Jenny), numerous cousins and Charlie, a friend since high school. He enjoyed walking his dog Dixie to his last day. Special thanks to Jan, Megan and Blake with Horizon Hospice for their care.

A rosary will be celebrated at Our Lady of Limerick Catholic Church in Glenns Ferry, ID on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 5:00pm with a funeral mass on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 10:00am followed by lunch at the family home in Hammett.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Limerick Catholic Church, 21 West Arthur, Glenns Ferry, ID 83623 or St. Luke’s Elmore Foundation, 895 N 6th East St, Mountain Home, ID 83647.