July 3, 2013
Date of Service: July 6, 2013
Interment Location: Garden of the Last Supper
James Marvin Carden, age 66, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, from his residence. He was the son of the late James Laney Carden and Edith White Carden. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and the 25th Infantry from 1967 to 1970. He received the Purple Heart, along with several other medals, while serving in Vietnam. Mr. Carden began his law enforcement career in 1970 in Chattanooga with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and retired as a Sergeant in June of 2001 from the Fall Branch District. He was the instructor for the Carter County Traffic Class, worked on the Civil Service Board, a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #60 and a member of the D.A.V. Lodge #17. He was a lifelong member of Doe River Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon for 21 years. Marvin thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and yard work. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Evelyn Donnelly Carden; daughter, Amy Renee Carden Bowers and husband, Mathew; sons, Jamie Marvin Carden and wife, Tracy, and Jason Lynn Carden; sister, Carolyn Ann Carden VanDyke and husband, Jack; grandchildren, Chase, Jonah and Brett Carden, Caleb and Emily Bowers, Abigail Carden, and Alyson Harbaugh; aunts, Susie Combs, Lulabell Holden and Sherry Carden; special aunt and uncle, Peggy Lewis and Roosevelt Carden. Several nieces and nephews also survive. The funeral service for Mr. Carden will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, July 6, 2013, in the Chapel of Peace in Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Jim Hawk and Rev. Daniel Fink officiating. Special music will be provided by Jerry Barnett, Abby Harris, Teresa Fagan and Carol Bowers. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m., prior to the service. The graveside service will follow in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Special honors will be rendered by the Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor Guard. Active pallbearers will be Jamie Carden, Jason Carden, Caleb Bowers, Chase Carden, Rick Boling, Kelly Crain, Rick Hammitt and Kent Hyder. Honorary pallbearers will be M.C. Campbell, Johnny Lovelace, Larry Stevens, deacons and friends of Doe River Baptist Church and past and present Tennessee Highway Patrol Officers. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorial donations to Doe River Baptist Church Backpack Fund, 113 Avon Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Carden family. Office 423 542-2232, Obituary line 543-4917.
