Kathryn was born on March 9, 1930, in Jackson, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Esther Brasher Maness and Emmett B. Maness Sr. She attended Beech Bluff High School in Madison County and devoted most of her adult life to being a homemaker and caring for her family.
A lifelong member of East Union Baptist Church, Kathryn loved the Lord and her church deeply. Her faith and her family were important parts of her life.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Thomas “Tom” Lyndall Dean, who passed away on August 26, 2013. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Bill Maness, Buddy Maness, Clyde Maness, and Pete Maness; and her sisters, Donna Kay Maness, Lavern Maness Blair, and Cora Maness Goff.
She is survived by her daughters, Vickie Barker (Ron) and Mona Gobbell (Tommy); her sons, Tommy Dean (Jackie) and Alan Dean (Teresa), all of Jackson; her grandchildren, David Dean, Jason Dean-Arroyo, Suzanne Usery, Michelle Allen, Scott Dean, Ranee Jones, Jill Markle, Julie Barker, Rachal Morris, John Thomas Gobbell, Amber Love, Brent Dean, and Brad Dean; 25 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Alice Terry Stovall, Barbara Johnson, and Janice Boone, all of Jackson.
Kathryn enjoyed traveling, camping, and sports. She and Tom especially enjoyed escaping the cold Tennessee winters by camping in Florida following his retirement. Those trips provided many treasured memories during their years together.
Lovingly known as “Nanny” by her family, Kathryn will also be remembered for her cooking, especially her Thanksgiving dressing. Nanny made certain that her treasured recipe was passed down to her granddaughters, allowing a special family tradition to continue for generations to come.
Kathryn’s family extends special thanks to her caregivers, whom they came to love like family, for the wonderful and compassionate care they provided to her over the past three-plus years.
A service to celebrate the life of Kathryn Dean will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 1:00 pm at the North Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons with burial following in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 11 a.m., two hours prior to the service at the funeral home.
Kathryn leaves behind a family spanning generations and a legacy of faith, love, family traditions, and cherished memories.
