A lifelong resident of the Ava area Mary Elizabeth Caudill, daughter of Bailey Ludwig and Iva (Robertson) Ludwig, was born Feb. 20, 1939, in Ava, and departed this life in Ava, on May 18, 2007, at the age of 68.
Mary was a lifelong resident of the Ava area. She graduated from Ava High School in 1957. On Sept. 15, 1958, Mary and Kenneth Caudill were united in marriage in Seymour, and to this union a daughter was born.
Mary was a homemaker and member of the New Hope Freewill Baptist Church. She was a Sunday school teacher, bookkeeper, secretary, and Christmas program coordinator. Mary had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening, raising tomatoes and flowers. She loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals and most of all doing things with her daughter, Beth, and her grandchildren and her church work.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Annette Caudill and Wilda Lloyd, and one niece, Rita Elliott.
She is survived by her daughter, Bethany Schroeder, and three grandchildren, Seth, Delaine and Destiny Schroeder, all of Ava; her husband, Kenneth Caudill, of Wasola; one brother, Larry Ludwig, three sisters, Virginia Crank, Aloma Cummins and Ila Stillings, all of Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with Pastor Richard Potter officiating. Interment followed in the Ava Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeard funeralhome.com
