March 2, 1937 - March 21, 2025

Willie Lee (Gideon) Loden, age 88, of Spring City, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at her home in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, on Friday, March 21, 2025.

Lee was born in Luminary, Tennessee, on March 2, 1937, to the late Issac “Ike” and Dailey (Roberts) Gideon. She grew up in Spring City before marrying John “J.C.” Loden and becoming an Army wife for almost 20 years. While John served in the Army, Lee worked for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) as a Cafeteria Manager. After retirement from the Army, she worked at Red Foods, Piggly Wiggly, and the Spring City Care and Rehabilitation Center. Lee enjoyed going to local festivals, being active with the Senior Lighthouse Center, and going todances with her friends. She always enjoyed a good game of cards and spending time with her friends and family.

Lee is preceded in death by her husband John C. Loden, and her grandson John Eric Jaegge; her brothers Arvin, Ervin (Yetiva), Arlie (Laura), Ray(Loretta), and J.R., and her sisters Dovie (Jimmy) Breeding, and Lucy (Boyd) Smith.

Lee is survived by her children Deborah (John) Jaegge of Twin Falls, Idaho, Pam (Jeff) Miller of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, Tim (Lisa) Loden of Lincoln, California, and Michael Loden of Spring City; grandchildren Erica (Bo) Glenn, Jennifer (David) Blumberg, Timmy (Christina) Loden, Sarah (Allan) Woodall, Jaegge, Jessica Loden Vidales, Andrea (Michael Fulbright), Sasha (Brandon) Phillips; 17 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.  

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Vaughn Funeral Home with Reverend Milton Knox officiating. Lee will be laid to rest in the Spring City Cemetery following the service. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Vaughn Funeral Home.

The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful women who lovingly cared for our mother over the last few years – Josephine Kimani, Annah Oigo, Bancy Mwangi, Cece Ndegwa and the other wonderful ladies who worked for Care Point In-Home Care.