Lori Ann Schaefer Knutson

Our dear Lori went to be with the Lord Sunday, August 25, 2024, at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, Texas. Lori passed away peacefully with her loving family and beloved friends around her after a valiant battle against cancer.

Lori was born January 2, 1972, as the seventh child of Hilmer and Mae Dell Schaefer in Rowena, Texas. As the baby of her family, Lori was doted upon by her parents and siblings. She always said they saved the best for last! She learned to read at the age of three, sitting at the kitchen table reading the back of her cereal boxes. Lori was the "go to" kid to run and fetch anything her older siblings wanted until one day she stood up for herself and loudly proclaimed, "No!" She went on to achieve great things in her life with her newfound attitude of "I can do this!"

Lori graduated from Ballinger High School in 1990 as valedictorian of her class. She then graduated from Angelo State University in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

In 2007, while on a family trip, she met her soulmate, Eric Knutson. The stars aligned immediately. They were married in 2009, making their home in San Angelo.

After seeing the loving care given to her infant daughter Annika by her nurses, Lori was taken aback by this and decided this is what she wanted to do in her life. Encouraged by Eric, she soon enrolled in nursing school. Even though she was almost 40 years old enrolled in classes with those half her age, she persevered and received her Registered Nursing License in 2011. Lori was very passionate in her healthcare career at Shannon Medical Center and found the greatest joy in giving comfort to her patients. Lori later progressed to leadership roles in her nursing career.

When her oldest daughter at a young age asked Lori what her favorite job was, Lori immediately replied, "Being a mom." All of her children declare they could not have had a better mom.

In 2016, Lori and Eric felt fortunate to be able to build their family home on the Schaefer family home place near Rowena. Lori treasured being on the home place surrounded by the cotton fields her dad once grew on that same land.

Lori is preceded in death by her infant daughter, Annika Knutson, her parents, Hilmer and Mae Dell Schaefer, and her father-in-law, John Knutson.

She is survived by her husband Eric Knutson, son Christopher Taylor, daughter Jill Taylor, son Johnny Knutson, daughter Erika Knutson, and mother-in-law Sue Knutson. Lori is also survived by her six siblings, Donna Kruse (Dave), Susan Schumacher (Gene), Mark Schaefer (Jeanne), Connie Case (Craig), Joan Schwartz (Johnny), and Gary Schaefer (Tami), along with sisters-in-law Joanna Rowell (Charlie) and Jessica Fox (Eddie), and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, all of whom loved Aunt Lori dearly. Lori is also survived by numerous fellow co-workers at Shannon Medical Center, especially her 4-North family.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to all the medical staff at Shannon Medical Center for their loving care provided to our beloved Lori.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena, Texas, with a rosary being recited at 10:00 a.m. and mass to follow at 10:30 a.m.

A small private burial will be held in San Angelo at a later date, as her body has been donated for research.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Outreach Services of San Angelo to help the homeless, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or the American Cancer Society.