James Ernest Cardwell

James Ernest Cardwell, age 67, died at home in Plainview in Union County, TN on December 23, 2010 from complications of quadriplegia suffered in a motor vehicle accident in August 2008. He was born in 1943 in Knoxville, TN to Ernest Daniel Cardwell and Clara Atkinson Cardwell. Jim was a 1961 graduate of Holston High School and a 1971 graduate of Steed College. He was a proud Navy veteran, serving as a machinist’s mate on two destroyers, the U.S.S. Soley and the U.S.S. Charles F. Adams. Jim retired from the University of Tennessee computing department in 2000 and then completed training to receive his commercial driver’s license. He drove a truck for eight years, a second career he was avidly pursuing before becoming paralyzed. Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Daniel Moyes Cardwell. He leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his memory his wife of 20 years, Catherine Ramsey Penland Cardwell; first wife, Annette Galandis Cardwell and their son, Eric Douglas Cardwell, and his wife Niki, of Nashville; step-daughter, Jennifer Penland Keller, and husband Jeff of Johnson City; two granddaughters, Alexis Nicole Cardwell and Peyton Elizabeth Keller; sisters, Dorothy McElyea of Lenoir City and Patricia Huff of Knoxville; nephew and special caregiver, Robert P. Lombard, Jr.; sister-in-law, Lynne Ramsey Lombard Stockwell and husband Darrell; mother-in-law Faye Trimble Ramsey, foster sister Ann Varalla of Georgia; special friends James and Patsy MacKenzie of Maynardville, nieces Karen McElyea and Dawn Huff Johnson; nephews Kevin McElyea, John Huff, Shean Huff and Andre Huff; as well as countless friends and extended family. Jim is also preceded in death by many beloved pets, from Rover, his dog as a young child, to Midget, Katie, Daisy, and Greta, his canine family members of recent years. He will be missed by current family pets, Shelly, Foxy, Dixie Belle and Boots. The family will receive friends to celebrate Jim’s life on Tuesday 5:30 – 8 pm at Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel. The family will meet at 12:45 pm Wednesday for a 1 pm interment. Arrangements by Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel of Berry Funeral Home, 2300 W. Adair Dr. Condolences may be offered at www.lynnhurstchapel.com