Cover photo for Eddie Raye Knipp's Obituary
Eddie Raye Knipp Profile Photo
1946 Eddie 2013

Eddie Raye Knipp

January 10, 1946 — December 28, 2013

The third and final chapter in a valiant and extraordinary life came to a peaceful end with the passing of Eddie Raye Knipp on December 28 at home attended by his loving family. This “sweetest, most gentle of souls” was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on January 10, 1946 to Charles E. Knipp and Jeanne Cagle Post. The family moved to El Paso in 1956 where Eddie attended Ysleta High School and UTEP before entering the U.S. Army in 1967. He served proudly in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, earning the Vietnam Service, Meritorious Service and Combat Service Medals. After his honorable discharge from military service in 1969, Eddie returned to El Paso and re-entered UTEP where he met Laurie Leeds, the true love of his life. They were married on April 22, 1972 and began their special journey together which lasted for over 41 years. Eddie held positions at Peyton Packing Company and Armour Meat Company in El Paso before the couple moved to Phoenix, AZ where they opened their own company, Harley’s Choice Meats. In 1977, the couple returned to El Paso and Eddie subsequently joined the family business, Central Furniture Company, where he remained active in numerous capacities for the remainder of his extraordinary life. The second chapter of Eddie’s life began on December 24, 1987 when he received a heart transplant at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston and then spent the next 11 years rejoicing in the miracle of life, providing inspiration and joy for all around him. The third chapter began in March, 1999 when Eddie received a second heart transplant and, along with Laurie, began a committed effort to nationally promote awareness of organ donation and the benefits of transplantation. Special motivation for this important work was the untimely death in 1995 of their beloved son, Michael, at 17 years of age and whose organs now live on in over 60 people throughout the U.S. Prior to his passing, Eddie held the distinction of being the longest surviving double heart transplant recipient among all recipients at St. Luke’s Medical Center. As his son David expressed, “It’s been an incredible journey.” Eddie was predeceased by his parents, his son, Michael, and his brother, Chuck Knipp. He is survived by his beloved wife, Laurie, and son, David, and his brother, John. Also left to cherish his memory are mother-in-law Ann Louise Leeds, sisters-in-law Louann Pranses, Sydney Goltz (John Burton) and Diana Knipp; nephews Charlie Knipp (Linda), Justin Knipp, Zack Nasits (Chantel), and Matthew Goltz; nieces Jennifer Zientz (Michael), and Stephanie Knipp; numerous grandnephews and grandnieces, and legions of friends and ardent admirers who will continue to be inspired by his memory and example. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, December 31, at 1:30PM at Temple Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 3911 Gateway West. Active pallbearers will be David Knipp, Charlie Knipp, Zach Nasits, Steve Blumenthal, Drew Bowen and Phil Bowen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Texas Heart Institute, 6770 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, (832)355-3792; The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163, (800)708-7644; or Temple Mt. Sinai Cemetery Fund, 4408 N. Stanton, El Paso, TX 79902, (915)532-5959. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.
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