Marie Nail Dahmus

Mrs. Marie Nail Dahmus, 78, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee passed away at her home on September 3rd, 2026. She was succeeded in death by her beloved son, Mark Anthony Dahmus, her parents, Irene and J.T. Nail, and her sister, Susan Saunders. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Tony Dahmus; her daughters, Kathy McDearman (John McDearman) of Lebanon, TN, and Stephanie Gounder (Mohan Gounder) of Nashville, TN; and her sister Linda Butler (Roger Butler) of Brentwood, TN. Marie has 7 grandchildren: J.C. McDearman (Leanne McDearman), Elijah McDearman (Ellie McDearman), Mark McDearman (Francesca McDearman), Mia McDearman, Caroline Gounder, Sahana Gounder, and Lydia Gounder.

Marie, the youngest of three girls, was born in East Tallassee, Alabama and remained an avid Alabama football fan her entire life. Her family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee when she was very young and this is where she spent her childhood, attended Oak Ridge High School, and was a member of the “Swankettes”, a social club. After high school, she moved to Atlanta to work and while there met her husband, Tony. They settled in Hixson, Tennessee and raised their family and made many life-long friends. She spent many years substitute teaching, teaching pre-school and working as the Director of the Burk’s United Methodist Child Development Center in Hixson. It was in this career that she was able to impact her community by nurturing and educating so many young children in the Hixson area. She was an adored pre-school teacher and her home was always filled with gifts and drawings from her little students.

Marie was creative and crafty and often made crafts to sell at local craft fairs with her sister, Linda, and her dear friend, Nancy. Every table in the house would be filled with craft supplies when she was preparing for a craft fair. Her signature craft was a Christmas ornament that looked like a bell created from a miniature flowerpot, red paint, and bows. She sold hundreds and hundreds of little Christmas bells. Marie was an avid cook and was well-known for her lasagna, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, and homemade sourdough bread, rolls and cinnamon rolls. In 2003, she was featured in an article in the local Hixson newspaper that highlighted her sourdough starter tips and sourdough bread recipes.

Marie was an attentive, engaging, and loving mother and grandmother with a feisty and fun-loving personality. She will be missed and never forgotten.

The funeral service will be held at Chattanooga Funeral Home in Hixson, Tennessee, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held from 12:00  p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Marie will be laid to rest at Hamilton Memorial Gardens in Hixson, Tennessee, alongside her son, Mark Dahmus.

Pallbearers are John McDearman, Mo Gounder, J.C. McDearman, Eli McDearman, Mark McDearman, and John Byrne. Honorary pallbearers are Steve Hudson, Dennis Hixson, Joe Farless, Don Godsey, Collin Lord, John Richardson, and Alex Buttram.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA).

Bond Memorial Chapel, N. Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. (615)773-2663. Obit Line (615)641-2663, www.bondmemorial.com