Carol Estelle Christensen Ergenbright 02/03/1947 - 08/13/2025
Carol Estelle Christensen Ergenbright, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025, at the age of 78.
Born to the late Carl R. Christensen and Estelle O. Christensen, Carol grew up in Virginia and moved to Maryville with her husband and children in 1983.
A lifelong educator, literacy advocate, and beloved member of the Maryville community, Carol’s professional career was dedicated to opening doors for others through education. In 1984 she started teaching Adult Basic Education through Blount County Schools and assumed the role of the program’s Coordinator in 1991, serving until her retirement in 2015. Working tirelessly to help adults achieve literacy and complete their education, she touched the lives of countless learners and their families.
In recognition of her service, Carol was honored in 2000 by the Tennessee General Assembly as one of Blount County’s “Women Who Make a Difference” in the field of education and was recognized in 2002 with the Sequoia Literacy Award. She was an active leader with the Tennessee Association for Adult and Community Education (TAACE) and the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County, where she established their largest fundraising event, the Adult Spelling Bee. Her warmth, encouragement, and belief in the potential of every student left an indelible mark on the community.
She loved surrounding herself with her family, hosting holiday meals, and actively participating in the lives of her grandchildren. An avid reader of novels, she always had a book recommendation and was a devoted fan of Jane Austin. She was actively involved in the Carpenter’s Campground Methodist Church Women’s Group, providing support and caring for their extended church community. Walking the Greenbelt and her neighborhood whenever she had the chance were some of her favorite activities.
Carol is survived by her devoted husband, Robert F. Ergenbright; her daughter, Kirsten M. (Matthew) Craft; her son, Robert C. (April) Ergenbright; her grandchildren, Reed A. Craft, Raleigh C. Craft, Nathan Woodard, Kaden Woodard, Connor Ergenbright, Owen Ergenbright, and Ava Ergenbright; her sister, Ann Christensen; and her brother, Erik Christensen. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and former students who will remember her for her love, kindness, leadership, and unwavering commitment to helping others succeed.
A celebration of Carol’s life will be held at Broadway United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 24. Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM, with the funeral service at 2:00 PM. The funeral will be followed by interment at Carpenter’s Campground Cemetery, with a brief reception to follow.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Aaron Romans with Blount Memorial Hospital, and the staff and nurses at the Life Care Center of Blount County, who treated her with greatlove and respect during this difficult journey. We are eternally grateful.
Carol’s legacy will live on in the many lives she enriched through her patience, encouragement, andsteadfast belief in the power of education. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donationsto the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County or to a literacy organization of your choice.
Visitation will be held at Broadway United Methodist Church on Sunday August 24th at 1PM and Service will be held at 2PM
Interment will be held after the service at Carpenters Campground Methodist Church
