Vivian Dean Carden of Knoxville went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Fort Sanders Medical Center.  She was born on February 17, 1946, to Ray and Helen Luttrell Housley of LaFollette, Tennessee. Dean grew up in LaFollette and later moved to Knoxville.

Predeceased by father, Ray Milford Housley; mother, Helen Luttrell Housley; sisters, Betty Lou Dunn, June Housley, Sylvia Jean Housley; niece, Deborah Lynn Housley Turner; nephew, Robert Joseph Housley.

Dean is survived by her daughter, Vivian Leeann Carden; grandchildren, Riley Deanne Carden, Grayson Ray Carden; sisters, Shirley (Marshall) McGhee of Caryville, TN, Carolyn Hutchinson of Kettering, Ohio, Sharon (Robert) Ivey of Powell, TN, Karen Cruise of LaFollette, TN; special friends, Pat Black, Jane Finn, and Mike Finn; special neighbors, Joe and Louise Morin, and John and Chris Sweeney

Dean was of the Baptist faith and came to know the Lord as a young girl at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church.  She loved beautiful flowers, gardening, sewing, shopping, dancing, and collecting dolls. Dean was a nurse and worked for 40 years at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was known for her wit and warm, welcoming spirit. She had an outgoing personality and never met a stranger. She brought joy and laughter to everyone around her and had a special gift for making people feel welcome and at home.  She had a great sense of humor and will be remembered by all who knew her.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 28, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the chapel of Martin Wilson Funeral Home. Funeral service to follow at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

The family has entrusted the care of Vivian Dean Carden to Martin Wilson Funeral Home, “Where Families Matter Most.”

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