J. William Knightly, 83, died on Jan. 20, 2012, in Lenexa, Kansas.

He is survived by his sons: Stephen (wife Melody) of Forest Grove, Ore., John (wife Mindi) of Lenexa, Kan., and Andrew (wife Cosette) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Jakob Knightly, Paul Knightly, and Whitney Knightly; his brothers, Bob Knightly (wife Reva) of Omaha, Neb., and their families: daughters, Nancy and Debbie, and son, Robert and their families; and John Knightly (wife Shirley) of Pittsburg, Kan. and their families: daughters, Ann and Amy, and son, Arnold and their families; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Conrad and Priscilla Woolwine of Sun City, Ariz., and their family: son, Tom (wife Joletta, son Larson) and daughter, Kathy Woolwine Craig (husband Patrick, daughter, Abigail, son, Daniel). His wife Marjorie, preceded him in death on Oct. 26, 2011.

Bill was born in Hutchinson, Kan., on Nov. 17, 1928, to John Joseph and Marjorie Montgomery Knightly. He graduated from Hutchinson High School. He received a degree in Management Engineering from Carnegie Tech in Pittsburg, Pa. Following graduation from Carnegie Tech, he served in the U.S. Navy as a storekeeper in Hawaii during the Korean War. Following his service, he earned a law degree from the University of Kansas and passed the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant. He began his professional accounting career with Arthur Andersen in Kansas City, Missouri. After practicing briefly with E.R. Bartlett, Norman Settle, and S.S. Edgerle in Hutchinson, Kan., Bill opened his own practice, J. William Knightly and Company, in Oct. 1962. His business flourished until 1988 when he sold it. He continued business consulting until the last couple of years at his new home in New Mexico.

Bill married Marjorie Marie Woolwine on July 14, 1956, in Pratt, Kan. During the Hutchinson years, many family vacations were taken, mostly to the West. In 1988, Bill and Marge moved to Santa Fe to pursue a long time dream of living there. Their path would eventually lead to Cochiti Lake, N.M., outside of Santa Fe where Bill and Marge lived for the past 15 years. During their years in the Santa Fe area, Bill, Marge (and, of course, their dogs) continued traveling in their travel trailer. The trailer logged thousands of miles across the west and southwest. They always loved the mountains.

The family would like to thank Bill's caregivers since Aug. 2011, who made his life easier and happier through his final months: Comfort Keepers in Santa Fe, Kingston Residence of Santa Fe, Dr. Gabriella Good and her staff of Santa Fe, Sunrise of Lenexa (Kansas) Assisted Living, and Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, (Kansas City). You all did a wonderful job.

To celebrate Bill's life, the family will receive friends at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson, Kansas, on Feb. 4, 2012, from 1 to 3 p.m. Bill was an avid reader and volunteer at the Cochiti Lake Public Library. Accordingly, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be sent to the Irene S. Sweetkind Public Library, 6515 Hoochaneetsa Boulevard, Cochiti Lake, N.M., 87083