Dr. Thomas Ray Carden

Thom passed away on October 4, 2024 at home. He was 93. Thom was born to Howard Ray Carden and Mary Ola Eacret, May 19, 1931, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the second of three children. He had bright red hair and was the only redhead until 15 years later when his half-sister, Joy, was born, so of course teasing was the norm in the family and through his school years. Thom attended P.S. 72 in Indianapolis, where he excelled in his classes. In seventh grade he played drums and trumpet which he continued to play through Manual High School. There, he advanced his trumpet skills to play solo chair trumpet and was selected student conductor as a senior in concert, marching, and dance band. He also gained varied experiences working after school and with a talent in art was a sign artist from age 14, which he pursued thru his married life. He graduated in 1949 and trained as an aircraft mechanic for jet fighters. Thom met a lovely girl at the phone company, and he and Shirley Ann Towles were married in 1953. In 1958 they became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (then, “Mormon”). They had five children, the last three being born after moving to southern California. They divorced in 1968.

Thom then continued working as an insurance agent and tried another avenue by getting an agen and recording in Hollywood as a pop vocalist named “Thom Arden.” He sang in the Mormon Choir of Southern California, sang solos in weddings, funerals and church functions. He didn’t feel comfortable in the milieu of pursuing show business and abandoned that idea. In 1971 he made a major life decision at age 40 to attend college and pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology. He attended Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA (AA), California State University at Northridge (BS), and achieved his graduate Master’s and Doctoral studies at University of Southern California (USC). He became Dr. Thom Carden, Ph.D. in 1980.

In 1973, he met the eternal love of his life at a singles meeting. Anita was a divorced school teacher with five lovely daughters about equal ages to his five children. They were married in May 1973 and became a family of 12. Thom began counseling and teaching classes in 1976 and spent 26 years as a Psychotherapist and marriage counselor. Anita acquired multiple sclerosis in her late forties, and it caused her to retire in 1993. They moved to Durango, CO in 1994. Thom practiced Psychotherapy and retired in 2000, when he says he got it right, so didn’t need to practice. They have been members of the Durango-2 ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Both served in church positions and Thom served as a High Priest on the Stake High Council. Anita was overcome by ovarian cancer in October 2013 and passed away in February 2014.

Thom is preceded in death by his mother (2007), father (1942), sister Joy Ruddick (1960), the mother of his children, Shirley (2013), Anita (2014), and his son Dennis P. (2020). He is survived by his children: Thom H. (Cindy); Kevin L. (Rose); Shawn D. (Gina); Suzanne M. Burg (Jim); Marlene Daly (Brad); Cindy Woodbury (Garth); Lorrie Clark; Linda Connor (Troy); and Alayne Outlaw (Charles); 21 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren; sisters Betty Smith and Geri Sears; and a special mention for H. Doreen Maxfield of S. Jordan, UT, who has been a faithful sharing and caring friend and companion in these last years. God be with you all till we meet again.