Fredna Knaggs was born on December 19, 1919 in Cotulla, Texas. She was the daughter of Richard F. Knaggs and Rebecca Davis Knaggs, who preceded her in death. She was a historian, cattlewoman, teacher, friend and much loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her children Richard (Dick) Dobie and his wife Dr. Deborah F. Dobie and Rebecca (James C. Stokes†) Dobie Stokes; step-daughter, Peggie Sarno; grandchildren, Richard L. (Heather) Dobie IV, Elizabeth Dobie (Neville) Haynes, James Dobie (Allison) Stokes, William Carr (Rebecca) Stokes, Dr. Martha Rebecca Stokes and fiance Peter Valley, Jon Sarno and ten great-grandchildren.
She graduated from Cotulla High School and the University of Texas. In 1942 she married Richard L. Dobie Jr. and moved one house down from the house where she was born and raised her children. After her husband died in 1960 she went back to school to earn her Master's degree in Counseling from Trinity University and became the first counselor in the Cotulla public schools. In later years, many of her students would tell her what a difference she made in their lives.
In 1973 she married J. Prince Wood and after teaching for many years retired to become a full time rancher's wife and enjoy her growing family. After Prince died in 1995 she kept herself busy with the Brush County Museum, the La Salle Historical Association, the Cotulla Women's Club and as an elder of the Cotulla Presbyterian church. As a young girl she rode her horse Pinto to Sunday school and hitched him to a tree outside the church.
She enjoyed riding horses and was Queen of the Cotulla Rodeo in 1940 and in 2005. She dearly loved living in Cotulla and was proud of the fact that she owned La Salle County land which was purchased by her grandfather, D.H. Davis in 1912. She often referred to the elevated portion of her ranch as the "Hills of Home". When the ranch which is located in the Eagleford Shale became productive, her only indulgences were to fund the grandchildren and get all the family together for a special trip or event.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at Peters Funeral Home from 1:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. Services will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 10:00a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 114 E. Stewart St., Cotulla, Texas.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to her caregiver and companions, Maria Flores and Ashley Carbajal, as well as the staff and administrator of Las Palmas Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to the Brush County Museum, 201 S. Stewart St., Cotulla, Texas, the Cotulla Cemetery Association, 1107 Nueces, Cotulla, Texas or the First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 369, Cotulla, Texas.