Constance Mae Knirk

Published 10:34 am Friday, January 3, 2025

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Tryon, NC—Constance Mae Knirk passed away peacefully on Friday, December 20th, 2024 at White Oak Nursing Home in Tryon, NC.

She was born in 1936 in Detroit, MI. She was the daughter of Roy Tarpley and Glenna Faires Tarpley. Connie’s siblings were the late Gerald ‘Jerry’ Tarpley and Marilyn ‘Janet’ Larry. 

She graduated from the High School of Commerce in Detroit in 1955, where her focus was business education, as the school was a finishing school for young women teaching secretarial skills, typing, penmanship, shorthand and bookkeeping. 

Connie was married to Bruce Westervelt in 1956, and later married the late John R. Knirk in 1986. 

She worked at BASF in Troy, MI as an Executive Secretary until her retirement in the early 90’s. 

Connie and Jack moved to Tryon, NC in 2005 to be near Kim and Rich Nelson and their three children who had recently moved to the area. They enjoyed a robust retirement lifestyle and had many friends. They bowled in Forest City, went to church at St. John the Baptist, joined a Poker club, and played Bingo at the American Legion regularly. 

Surviving sons and daughters of Connie are Dawn Nelson (James) of Southfield MI, Scott Westervelt (Jana) of Clinton Township, MI, Shawn Westervelt of St. Clair Shores, MI, Kirk Westervelt (Lorena) of Greenville, SC, and Kimberly Nelson (Richard) of Tryon, NC. Grandchildren include Isabel and Celia Nelson, Dalton and Daniel Westervelt, Jacob, Justin, Jared and Jason Westervelt, and Lucas, Lillian, and Samuel Nelson. Great-grandchildren include Ada and Pierce Nelson. Stepchildren include John Knirk, Jeffrey Knirk (Vickie), Ken Knirk (Debbie), David Knirk, Becky Geiger (Danny), and 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. If you’d like to participate, please email Kim@RichNelson.com

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com 

McFarland Funeral Chapel

Tryon