Dr. Patrick “Jerry” Carney of Knoxville entered eternal life on Aug. 28.
Dr. Carney was born on May 30, 1936, in Wichita, Kan., to Mary Frances and Michael Carney. He served as professor and department head at the University of Tennessee Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology from 1986-2003. He was president of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) in 1991.
Dr. Carney graduated in 1958 from Wichita State University, where he met Nyla Stegman. They married in 1959.
After working at Pittsburg State University in Kansas from 1963 to 1965, he and Nyla moved their family to the University of Iowa, where he received his Ph.D. in speech-language pathology in 1969. In 1971, they moved to Knoxville.
Dr. Carney was passionate about teaching, establishing and ensuring professional standards in audiology and speech pathology, and helping others. He received many professional awards and accolades, including the Communication Sciences and Disorders Outstanding Alumni Award from Wichita State University.
His other passions included playing tennis; officiating NCAA collegiate tennis matches; attending UT’s football, basketball, and Lady Vols games; church ministries for St. John XXIII University Parish; telling jokes; and spoiling his grandchildren.
Dr. Carney is survived by his wife of 66 years and his loving family, including children Debbie Danbury (Randy), Michael (Angie), Kevin (Catherine), and Dana Sherrod (John), as well as grandchildren Erin Carney, John Carney (Haley), Sean Carney (Aria Yuchuan), Matt Carney, Ryan Sherrod, and Madi Sherrod.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Frank and Joe; sister Patricia Hansen; brothers-in-law Paul Skolaut, Jerry Jonas, Hans Hansen, and John Reals; and sisters-in-law Bev Carney, Jama Carney, and Mary Bussey. He is survived by his siblings Mary Ann Skolaut; Dan Carney (Gayla); Sally Jonas; Sharon Bishop; Colleen Reals; Peter D. Carney (Debbie); Eileen Nevers (Larry); Mike Carney; and in-laws Michael Stegman (Dottie); Kevin McKinney (Jerry), and Jim Bussey.
A funeral Mass for Dr. Carney was held on Sept. 4 at All Saints Church in Knoxville.
Dr. Carney was a devoted member of St. John XXIII. Donations in Dr. Carney’s memory may be made to St. John XXIII University Parish, 1710 Melrose Place, Knoxville, TN 37916 or online at www.John23rd.org; or online to the Paulist Fathers at www.paulist.org.