Ralph L. Knotts, Sr., age 82, of Clayton, New Mexico, died on Wednesday March 29, 2023, in Amarillo, Texas.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Hilario Perez and Rev. Billy Rammage, officiating. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton, New Mexico.

Ralph Lee Knotts, Sr., was born in Perico, Texas on June 3, 1940, to Lena (Vandiver) Knotts and Lester Knotts. Ralph attended the Texline public school system k-12, at the young age of 12 he managed and operated a full-service gas station in Texline, hauled hay the old-fashioned way in the heat of the day and operated a hog farm. Ralph had a lot of supplemental jobs throughout his life.  Upon graduating from high school Ralph was offered a scholarship to play football for Colorado State University, but God had other plans as the family began. Ralph married Deanne (Adams) Knotts on September 12, 1958, in Clayton, New Mexico and she preceded him in death on February 25, 2011. He worked for Plains Dairy for his father-in-law W. L. Pete Adams in the 60's, he was also a butcher for the Eklund Hotel and a cook at the Frosty Bar. Ralph enjoyed the horse races, was an excellent poker player, he bowled in a bowling league and could bowl left or right-handed, he had all around sports talent. He enjoyed watching Nascar and picking March Madness winners. He was especially happy with the 2021 National Champions. In 1972 his hobby of loading shells and gun smithing in the family basement turned into a career in the sporting goods industry that is still thriving today. Ralph loved hunting and fishing and was a professional trap shooter in the 70's and 80's. He enjoyed the outdoors. He played baseball for the Clayton men's league for team Knotts Sportsman Supply in the early 80's. Ralph loved his good customers very much and was proud to serve the community and would often speak of the importance of its' legacy to serve his and Deanne's loyal customers and friends. He loved God and his family most of all. In addition to his wife and parents, Ralph was preceded in death by a son, David Knotts, a daughter Diana Segura and a sister Beulah Gordon.