Nathan D. Knight

Rev. Nathan Doyle Knight, 76, of Carlsbad, NM, went to his eternal home to be with his Lord and his son on May 3, 2023. Visitation will be 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Tuesday, May 9, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2:30 PM, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at First United Methodist Church of Carlsbad, NM with Rev. Scott Meador. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, NM.

Nathan was born February 10, 1946, in Amarillo, TX to Doyle and Janell (Brown) Knight.  He graduated from Abernathy High School in Abernathy, TX in 1965 where he excelled in athletics and academics. Nathan lettered in football, track, and basketball for the Abernathy Antelopes. He was a member of National Honor Society and was voted “Mr. Abernathy High School”. Nathan attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he studied Bible Theology and where he would meet his best friend and the love of his life, Marsha Knight, whom he married on June 10^th, 1972, at First United Methodist Church in Carlsbad, NM.

Music was a very important part of Nathan’s life, and he learned to play several instruments including the piano, guitar, saxophone, and bass guitar. Before leading praise & worship teams, Nathan was the lead singer of his own band, traveling around the country performing on some of the same stages as many well-known musical artists and opening for legendary performers such as Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. His love for music continued to grow and deepen when he “changed his tune” and began making music for worshiping the Lord. After accepting Christ as his personal savior during a divine encounter with a stranger, Nathan left the music industry to pursue his calling full-time ministry.

Nathan’s career as a pastor began at Trinity Church, in Lubbock, TX, where he and Marsha were Youth Pastors, teaching, mentoring, and fostering relationships with hundreds of teens and young adults. It was during this time that Nathan dedicated his life to leading others to Christ, sending Nathan and Marsha to Carlsbad, NM in 1978, where they continued their mission to establish and grow places of worship where ALL felt welcomed and accepted to come as they were but leave changed forever having accepted Christ as their Savior, learning the Word of God. 

Nathan was a loving father and husband, whose devotion and commitment to the ministry was established first and foremost in his home through teaching the Word of God and demonstrating the love of Christ by reflecting the fruits of the Spirit. One of his mission fields was his participation in volunteer roles including coaching little league athletics, choir and cheer booster clubs, Cavemen Football Booster Club, and founding the program “Meet the Cavemen Night”.

After almost 50 years of ministry, Nathan retired leaving a legacy of love and servanthood by leading thousands of people of all ages to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, countless marriage ceremonies and counseling sessions, hundreds of baptismal services, baby dedications, alter calls, and grief counseling and funeral ceremonies. After retiring, Nathan continued his work of serving others through volunteer work, substitute teaching, and the most important tasks of being a “Husband”, “Daddy” and “Pepa”. Nathan’s grandchildren and children were the lights of his life, and the source of many precious memories filled with laughter, love, and compassion, Nathan was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, mentor, and disciple of Christ.

Nathan was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Alexandre Knight; grandson, Aaron Knight Vasquez; parents, Doyle and Janell (Brown) Knight; in-laws Cas and Margie (Gadbury)

Survivors include his wife, Marsha (Alexandre) Knight; daughter, Kelli Knight Barta; granddaughters, Brooklynn Vasquez and Trinity Barta; and grandson, Trey Barta; brother-in- law and sister-in-law, Ron and Cheryl Nims; nephew, Adam Nims and wife Bridgett, niece, Denise Nims Tuite and husband Troy; and Stephanie Nims Lengers and husband, Ber.

Pallbearers will be Ron Nims, Adam Nims, Adrian Harkey, Charlie Burkham, Nolan Autry, and Joe Beasley.

Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com