Mary Louise Denley Lewis, 54, of Knoxville, departed this life at Summit View of Farragut on April 24, 2010, following a 6 year valiant battle with breast cancer. Mary was born to Robert and the late Joan (Post) Denley, April 17, 1956, in Des Plaines, IL. Mary spent her professional life helping others through social work, most recently at Cherokee Health Services, and as a teacher for kids with disabilities; spent her personal life helping friends and strangers through her love and devotion to God; and even after her life helping others by donating her body to medical research. She was a devoted mother to her son Matthew, and a loving and generous friend to all who had the honor to know her.
Preceded in death by her mother, Joan, she is survived by her father and stepmother, Robert and Evelyn Denley of Algonquin, IL; her brothers, David (Cynthia) Denley of Sugar Land, TX and Steven (Gayle) of Barrington, IL; her sister Nancy (Kevin) McCarthy of Chicago, IL; her beloved son, Matthew Lewis; nieces and nephews Jennifer Denley, Sara (Scott) Jensen; Brian, Christopher and Kimberly Denley; Samantha, Kelly, and Elizabeth McCarthy. Mary will be missed by all who knew her, but she is now finally free to be our angel in Heaven and a devoted servant to her loving God. The family wishes to express deepest gratitude to The Wellness Community, Drs. Daniel Ibach, William Mc Donald and Raymond Brig, their caring staffs, and the nurses and staff of 3rd floor Mercy West hospital. A celebration of Mary's life will be Saturday May 22nd at 2 P.M. at New Covenant Fellowship, 6828 Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville 37918 and the phone number of the church is 689-7001.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s honor to The Wellness Community of East Tennessee, 2230 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919, www.wellnesscommunitytn.org, or to The Knoxville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, 6701 Baum Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919, www.komenknoxville.org. To honor Mary’s love and talent for gardening, it is requested you plant something in the Earth to remember Mary as you watch it grow. Condolences may be sent to RememberingMaryLewis@gmail.com.
