Elfriede Nicolay Carr

Elfriede (Elly) Nicolay Carr of Trier, Germany and Maryville, Tennessee, went peacefully to be with our Heavenly Father during the night of March 8, 2023. She was greeted at the gates by her father and mother, Wilhelm and Pauline Nicolay, her devoted and loving husband of 53 years, John, who has been patiently waiting almost 15 years to dance with his love again, her firstborn son, Johnny, her daughter in law, Anita, along with innumerable loved ones who preceded her in death. She is survived by a litany of family who exist, in part, because of the

love and life her and John created for themselves and their family. Her memory and the memory of their love will live on through her son Michael Carr, of Columbia, her granddaughter Stacy Jordan and husband Jeff of Lawrenceburg, and their children Haillee, Anna, David, Aaron,

Rayburn, JJ, and Maggie, her grandson Eric Carr and wife Liliana of Columbia, and their children Elly Rhea, Easton, and Amelia, her grandson Cory Wells and wife Alex of Lexington and their children Greyson, Eli, Noah, and Chloe, her daughter Sonja Smith of Maryville,

granddaughter Ashley Smith and husband Buddy of Maryville and their children Riley and wife Emma, and Anders, her granddaughter Laura Sorensen and husband Randy of Nevada and their children Branden, Amanda, and Camren, her best friend Irmtraud and surrogate son

Herbie, along with extended family and friends who were all blessed enough to know and love her.

Elly was born on September 28, 1935 in Trier, Germany. Some of her earliest memories were from a war torn country, but this didn’t stop her from living. By age 16, she finished school and started an apprenticeship with a company, where she tailored and modeled clothes. One sunny

day around that time, she took her neighbor’s poodle on a walk to the park, and it was there on a bench that an American Airman approached her. She didn’t have much to say to him, so he decided to chat with the poodle instead, which made her laugh. John continued making her

laugh and smile for the next 56 years. Elly’s heart and soul were pure and kind. She had the ability to smile and make the best out of even the worst days. She was smart, thoughtful, talented, brave and the strongest person you could ever meet. No matter what life threw her

way, she found the will power to get up and smile, love life, and be there for her family until the very end.

Her family invites you to join them in a Celebration of Life on Sunday, March 12, 2023, from 3-5pm, in the Fellowship Hall at Monte Vista Baptist Church. There will be a private graveside ceremony the following day. Smith Funeral and Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com.