Sister Mary Mercedes, known as Kate, began life’s journey in Knottsville, Ky., when she became the first addition to the new family started by James Eugene and Virgi Lee Horrell Knott. Mary Catherine was born on a wintry Saturday, February 10, 1923. On the first Saturday of March she was baptized at St. William Catholic Church in Knottsville. Within two years, the family moved to Wilhelmina, Mo., where Mildred Louise was born . Following the two girls, nine more children would share the loving circle of the Knott family — William Vincent; James Eugene and Mary Agnes, who would live only a few hours; one baby sister, Mary Mercedes, would be among the family for only two years; Mary Frances; Mabel Louise; Charles C; James Patrick and Margaret Aurelia.
Kate’s education began in the Dunklin County Public School, a two-room school in Wilhelmina taught by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. She attended public high school also taught by the Ursuline Sisters at Glennonville. At the end of her freshman year, Kate received the sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday May 31, 1939. After graduation, Kate moved to St. Louis and worked for Cupples and Hess. Within a few months, when she had turned 20, Kate joined the ranks of women working in war plants and spent two years at McQuay Norris making piston rings for airplanes. By the time she left for Mount Saint Joseph she was an overseer in her department.
Kate entered the Mount Saint Joseph novitiate February 2, 1945. She received the habit August 14 and was given the name Sister Mary Mercedes. She made temporary profession August 15, 1947, and went on her first mission, St. Bernard Academy in Nebraska City, Neb., serving as food services director. Sister Mary Mercedes, with her peaceful spirit and gentle heart, orchestrated serving meals and creating a loving, homelike environment for the teaching Sisters who were members of the local community at St. Catherine, New Haven, Ky.; St. Denis, Shively, Ky.; St. Angela Home, Louisville on two separate occasions totaling 15 years; Cathedral Convent, Owensboro; the Diet Kitchen at Mount Saint Joseph; Sacred Heart Academy, Waterflow, N.M.; and Aztec, N.M., in pastoral outreach.
In 2005, Sister Mary Mercedes retired to the Motherhouse, and continued to be a warm presence in her quiet, unassuming manner. In 2007, she became a resident of Saint Joseph Villa sharing her gentle humor and love. On the morning of February 21, 2013, Thursday of the first week in Lent, the antiphon we shared for the Canticle of Zacharia in Morning Prayer was the verse from the Gospel of Mark, “Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” We did not know until later that evening that it was Sister Mary Mercedes who was knocking on heaven’s door. During community recreation, around 6:30, Sister Mary Mercedes walked through that opened door into the arms of Jesus, the love of her life.
The Wake Service was held in Mount Saint Joseph Chapel Monday Evening, February 25, followed by the Mass of Resurrection Tuesday morning. Family members, Ursuline Sisters and friends in solemn procession accompanied Sister’s remains to the convent cemetery for burial.