Maude Bernice Bivens

Maude Bernice Bivens, age 91, of Friendsville, died Monday, September 26, 2016, at Asbury Place. She was born May 18, 1925 near Louisville, TN, the daughter of Luther Deadrick and Hattie Mae (Purkey) Finger. A member of 1st Baptist Church Friendsville, she sang in the choir and served as a teacher, Church Training Director, and WMU Director. She was a 1943 graduate of Friendsville High School where she was the valedictorian. She was active in the Blount County Farm Bureau and also enjoyed collecting various items. She and her husband attended three World Fairs, also traveling several places through the New England states and the Pacific Northwest, before later spending several winters in Panama City Beach, Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Daisy Graves, Edna and Ruth Finger; brothers, Gordon, Burl, Ben an Max Finger. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Elden Bivens; sons and daughters-in-law, Bob Bivens – Ellijay, GA, Rick Bivens(Nora) – Morristown, Steve Bivens(Teri) – Maryville, and Phil Bivens – Friendsville; daughter and son-in-law Gayla Wright(Michael)- Dunlap; grandchildren, Stephanie Burr(Matt), Dwain Bivens, Caroline Snowden(Trevor), Chelsey Taylor(Steve), Michael Wright, II(Jessika), and Heather Wright; great-grandchildren, Kija and Sunny Burr, Joshua Taylor, Michael, Hunter and Lucas Wright, Kaiden Wright; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for Dementia may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 10088, Knoxville, TN 37939. Family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 29, 2016, at Smith Trinity Chapel, with funeral service to follow at 7:00 p.m. Family and friends will assemble for interment at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 30, 2016 at Friendsville Friends Cemetery, Pastor Tyler Bivens officiating. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Maude Bernice Bivens please visit our Sympathy Store.