Larry Carlton Fendley

Larry Carlton Fendley, 79, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on March 7, 2026, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was surrounded by his wife and children at the time of his passing.

Born in 1947 in Mobile, Alabama, to Minnie Lee Moore Fendley and William Ray Fendley, Larry was the youngest of four boys. When he was five, his family moved to Knoxville. He graduated from Bearden High School in 1966 and attended East Tennessee State University before being drafted into the United States Army, where he served in Korea and Germany.

In 1972, Larry married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn Smith. Together they raised two children, Scott, born in 1974, and Emily, born in 1982. Larry built a successful career in Knoxville’s building industry and in 1989 acquired Standard Kitchen & Bath. Known for his kindness and grace, he designed beautiful spaces while forging lasting relationships with customers and employees alike.

A devoted University of Tennessee Volunteers fan, Larry spent many Saturdays in Neyland Stadium and countless hours cheering for his four grandchildren—Wesley, Hunter, Jake, and Olivia—at their games. He cherished peaceful days on Watts Bar Lake with his family and their beloved dogs. An active member of Central Baptist Church of Bearden, he faithfully taught the two-year-olds class and lived his faith through quiet acts of service and kindness.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Bill and Don Fendley. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kathy Smith Fendley; son Scott Fendley (Amy); daughter Emily Fendley Jenkins (Andrew); grandchildren Wesley, Hunter, Jake, and Olivia; brother Archie Fendley (Susan); and several nieces and nephews. His Havanese dog, Belle, held a special place in his heart.

He will be remembered above all for his abundant kindness, his deep love for his family and pets, and the gentle, Christ-like way he treated everyone he met.