Margaret (Maggie) Ellen Howard Singleton, Ph.D., 74, of Knoxville, TN, lost her struggle of more than 20 years with Alzheimer’s Disease on March 12, 2022. Maggie was born on March 11, 1948, in Bozeman, MT, and as a child lived in England and Coulee Dam, Washington before her parents settled in Tualatin, Oregon. She was the oldest of 7 children and often spoke fondly of taking care of her younger siblings.
Maggie graduated from Raymond College of the University of the Pacific, then earned a Ph.D. in Clinical
Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She worked as a psychologist at Peninsula Hospital and later counseled patients in private practice before retiring from practicing psychology at the onset of
her Alzheimer’s. Maggie will be remembered for her empathy, deep sense of justice, and love for her family. Maggie was an enthusiastic supporter of her daughters’ activities and sporting events, especially soccer, and loved driving them and watching them at practices and games throughout their youth. Maggie’s passions were reading, playing the piano, listening to music, and Lady Vols basketball. Maggie was a long-time Lady Vols basketball season ticket holder spanning most of Pat Summit’s coaching career. As Maggie’s Alzheimer’s progressed, she was unable to remember the details of the games; however, she never failed to be energized by the sounds of the pep band playing Rocky Top and the electricity and excitement of Thompson Boling Arena.
Maggie is survived by her husband Jack; daughters, Sarah (Sam) Smithey and Jennifer Singleton (E.G. Nelson); sisters, Charlotte Howard, Patricia (Felix) Vicknair, Beth (David) Howard-Pitney, Jane (Ron) Harrell; brothers, John Howard and George Howard; grandsons, Levi and Luke Smithey; and many nieces and nephews. We wish to acknowledge the loving care Maggie received in the last years of her life by her caregivers: Sue Melton, who cared for Maggie for more than seven years, and Renna Zydel, Jill Fritz, and Ange Cowherd.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Maggie’s life will be held at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Hwy., Knoxville, Friday, March 18, 2022 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Pat Summit Foundation (www.patsummitt.org) or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.berryfuneralhome.com
