Sid and Carole McKnight
By Tara Autrey
Community Foundation for Mason County
EPWORTH HEIGHTS —For Carole McKnight, summer in Ludington is a homecoming. For more than six decades, she and her late husband, Sid, have loved Mason County far beyond the gates of Epworth Heights. Now, through a generous contribution from their donor advised fund to the Campaign for Mason County, their legacy of generosity will be forever felt by the place they call home.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1942, Carole arrived during the city’s only blackout of World War II. Her father lovingly joked that she had “been in the dark ever since.”
Carole and Sid met as teenagers and became high school sweethearts. She spent one year at Pomona College in Claremont, Cali., before her affection for Sid led her back to the Midwest. Carole earned a degree in English from the University of Kansas and married Sid in 1962. She taught high school for three years before turning her focus to supporting Sid through dental school and raising their two children, Allison and Sid III.
Carole described the six years of Sid’s dental school and training as “lean.” However, she valued that time, as it made her genuinely appreciate the opportunities that would come later. It also opened her eyes to the struggles of those who had less.
Those lean years created a solid foundation upon which they began building their life together, a life that included a place Sid had already come to love: Epworth.
Sid’s connection with Epworth began in the early 1950s after friends invited his family to visit. He fell in love with the community, especially the chance to spend time with other young people every summer.
Carole’s first visit was in 1961 with Sid and his family.
“The story goes, if you’re thinking seriously of marrying someone and you love Epworth, you bring them up to experience it. And if they don’t like it, it’s bye-bye,” Carole recalled with a grin.
She happily passed the test and, except for one summer during Sid’s training, the Kansas City natives have visited every summer since.
Sid, a periodontist by profession, was also enthusiastic about jazz drumming and prairie conservation. He even served as the chair of the Nature Conservancy of Kansas, where he and Carole worked together later in life, focusing on local wildlife and prairie restoration.
When Sid was nearing retirement and the couple moved out of Kansas City to a rural farm, they began to think of Ludington as their hometown. Sid started looking for ways to give back to the community he and Carole thought of as home. He helped create the Epworth Fund for Ludington as a bridge between Epworth and the broader Ludington community, providing a way for Epworth residents to fund student scholarships and impactful local projects.
“I think sometimes people have a misconception that we’re a gated community that’s just cut off and doing our own thing,” Carole explains. “Sid wanted to start this fund so it would be something visible to the community—a way for Epworth to give back to Ludington.”
In addition to sharing Sid’s commitment to nature conservancy, Carole has dedicated her life to living by her faith. She has taught Bible studies for over 40 years and regularly engages in church activities at Epworth, which she considers her “spiritual retreat.” Her philanthropy is a direct reflection of her faith. She points to Luke 12:48 as a guide: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” This belief is evident in her passion for the City Union Mission, a homeless mission in Kansas City that she has supported throughout her life, even when she and Sid did not have much themselves.
To that end, Carole has maintained a solid commitment to philanthropy through her funds at both the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Mason County. She sees the Community Foundation for Mason County as having its “finger on the pulse of the community,” making sure her donations meet the needs of the area. She appreciates that the foundation’s expertise allows her to support a wide range of causes, from expanding local nonprofits to helping individuals in need.
Carole is honored to support and be part of what she views as a well-rounded community. She admires Mason County for providing everything from outdoor activities like the sailing school for youngsters to a variety of cultural offerings, including the maritime museum, local historical sites, and the children’s museum. Ludington’s community spirit particularly inspires her.
“In Ludington, you have the movers and shakers who really get in and get things going, but you also have the man on the street who contributes. I think there’s a spirit here, a pride that ordinary, everyday people reflect,” said Carole.
As Carole watches her great-grandchildren develop their own love for Ludington—visiting the local bookstore, playing on the beaches, and celebrating summer birthdays—she cherishes the continuation of a beautiful family tradition that spans five generations.
“I just love the joy they exude when they’re in Ludington. They look forward all year to coming. So, the beat goes on,” said Carole.
Similarly, Carole’s contribution to the Campaign for Mason County will help make the community vibrant not only for her grandchildren, but for their children and all those to come after; it provides flexible funds to address Mason County’s greatest needs and opportunities now and for generations to come.
When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave for her and her beloved Sid, she tenderly responded, “That we loved each other, and we loved Ludington.”
Carole and Sid’s story, built on faith, family, community, and giving back, reminds us that true philanthropy is not only about giving. It’s about building meaningful connections— “giving beyond the gates”—and investing in the places we affectionately call home, a legacy Carole continues to write.
To contribute or learn more about the Campaign for Mason County, visit https://mason-foundation.org/ or contact Andrea Large at alarge@cffmc.org or 231.845.0326.
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