Lynette Doraine (Knight) Widmeyer
October 24, 1953 - November 22, 2020
Lynette Doraine Widmeyer passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, November 22nd, 2020, with family by her side, after losing her courageous battle with cancer at 67 years of age.
Lynette was born October 24th, 1953, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Loren Knight and Ina Knight. In addition to her mother, Lynette is survived by her younger sister Sheryl Thomas, her son Jason Widmeyer, and her daughter Tirzah Sulima (Widmeyer), both from her previous marriage to Danny Widmeyer. Lynette is also survived by Kerry John Leason, her partner and soul mate of 30 years, residing in Fountain Valley, California.
Lynette grew up in Marquette Heights, Illinois, where she graduated with honors from Pekin High School. She excelled in Language Studies, Speech, Debate, Creative Writing, Theater, and Performing Arts. She made many achievements throughout her schooling, such as earning top position on her high school debate team, leading to an invitational debate competition at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where she placed in the top ten.
Lynette began her career as an administrative professional for a consumer product manufacturer in Huntington, Indiana, then moved with her daughter to California to start a major career as a creative planning and development marketing specialist in themed landscape design with focus on Destination Hotel/Gaming Resorts, Golf Course Development, Theme Park Entertainment, Zoos, and Aquariums. She belonged to many industry trade associations which engaged her in collaborations with leading design firms, architects, planners, scientists, and developers. Yet due to her love for animals and preservation, her professed favorite involvement was with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which drove her thirst for a deep understanding of marine life sciences, coral preservation, animal habitat and husbandry, earning her respect and recognition from some of the highest degreed professioinals in both established research institutions and practice in the field.
Lynette enjoyed poetry very deeply, as this was her first passion, theater and the arts. She never got to share her works with the public. But her daughter will ensure that her legacy lives on here and through her writings:
Skin ages; soul does not," he told her.
"We merely tire it out by the games we play with the flesh of glove it is forced to wear.
"I am going where my speak can talk," he masterfully, yet softly pealed. "Do not let anyone ever trample to that place," he told her.
They do not know where it is; but when you know, your speak will talk. For it is the whirlwind beneath your heart where the soul's forge aspires. The tithe of life to spirit cannot be bound by cloth, desire, by barred rooms or clocks that coil seconds to hours."
It is hard to take to own that which you cannot see," he whispered. "Many will try.
When they do, and you are most afraid, go to that place and hide. Your voice will still, and your speak that melds your "speak to talk" shall be embalmed from within.
No one can steal that from you, when they do not know the direction to its grace."
("Come here, my little bird; sit on my knee and tell me what you read today. Did you decorate the small inside or leave it the same?")
As quoted from the creative writings of Lynette D. Widmeyer, "When Speak Could Talk."
Lynette Doraine (Knight) Widmeyer's online obituary included the photos below, elegantly incorporated into this musical slideshow: Lynette Knight Tribute.
