From the "Daily Astorian, 14 Jan 2008
John Thomas Carden, 91, of Forest Grove, formerly of Warrenton, died Friday,
Jan. 4, 2008, in Portland.
He was born Oct. 25, 1916, in Milner, Ga., to John Berry Carden and Lilly
Ella (Collins) Carden. He was raised on a cotton farm in Georgia, but left
at age 16. He later joined the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1936, he joined the U.S. Army and served for three years until his
discharge in 1939. He was stationed at Fort Stevens. In 1941, he was drafted
by the U.S. Army, but discharged after a short time to take care of his
family.
On Dec. 29, 1938, he married Shirley Lloyd Matteson. She preceded him in
death Feb. 19, 1999. The couple lived in the Warrenton area.
Mr. Carden worked as a barber for 36 years. For a short time, he also worked
for his father-in-law delivering meat. In 2001, he moved to Forest Grove.
He was a member of the Methodist faith. He was a 56-year member of the
Gateway Masonic Lodge No. 175 Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons in
Warrenton. He received the Masonic Originators Award in 1996 for being one
of three Masons who proposed the idea of the first high school honor student
banquet in 1961. He was also a member of the American Legion Columbia River
Post No. 7.
Family members said he enjoyed fishing and clamming. He also enjoyed family
gatherings.
Mr. Carden is survived by two sons, Thomas R. Carden of Oklahoma City,
Okla., and Richard D. Carden of Warrenton; a daughter, Debra R. Voss of
Beaverton; a brother, James W. Carden of Claremont, Calif.; nine
grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Sara Lois Carden-Harris and Lillie
Mae Carden-Wolfel.
A private family service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Gateway
Masonic Lodge in Warrenton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Peterson and Mowick Warrenton
Scholarship Fund, in care of Gateway Masonic Lodge, P.O. Box 211, Warrenton,
OR 97146.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Forest Grove is in charge of the
arrangements.
An online guest book may be signed at
www.fuitenrosehoyt.com