Elisha M. Caudill

Elisha Matthew Caudill, 79, of Elyria went home to be with the Lord Monday after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born May 30, 1932 in Floyd County, Kentucky and was an Elyria resident for the past 32 years, moving from Cleveland. Mr. Caudill worked as a machinist and tool designer for more than 40 years, retiring in 2010 from Assembly Specialties in Cleveland. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany in the 1950s. Mr. Caudill spent his life looking for opportunities to serve the Lord, organizing and promoting gospel concerts throughout Northeast Ohio. He headlined fundraisers for the American Heart Association for 33 years. He was a member of A Fresh Wind Church in Amherst. He was known for his practical jokes, his tomato garden, his sly cardsharp skills and most of all his devotion to his family. He met his future wife, Mary Catherine Rice, when she was in fifth grade and he was in eighth grade. They married in 1953 and celebrated their 58th anniversary on Sept. 17, 2011. They had six children, who survive: son, Alan (Debbie) Caudill of Sheffield; daughters, Connie (Don) Fiske of Painesville; Loreen (Mike) Payne of North Ridgeville; Sharon (Tom) Hurn of Wakeman; Teresa (Tim) Holt of Vermilion; and Rini (Scott) Jeffers of Westerville. He is survived by grandchildren Sandra (Dennis) Groene; Kate (Steve) Reisinger; Nichole (Brian) Kelsey; Laura (Scott) Schisler; Erica Caudill; Gabriel Caudill; Cassady Holt; Tim Holt; Maddie Holt; Josiah Holt; Carter Jeffers; and Charlie Belle Jeffers. He also is survived by great-grandchildren Tyler, Caleb, Kyle, Julia, Brennen, Ava and a boy due in January. He also is survived by brothers Andrew Caudill and Benjamin Caudill, both of Beattyville, Ky.; and sisters Nola Dickerson of Beattyville, Ky., and Shirley Large of Knoxville, Tenn. He is preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Jackson and Mary Alice (nee Abner) Caudill; grandchildren Zachariah T. Hurn and Michelle Payne; brothers Oscar, Paul, Cleophas, and Ray Caudill; and sisters Christy Hullenaar and Della Mullins. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at A Fresh Wind Church, 1115 Milan Ave. (next to KTM), Amherst. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at A Fresh Wind Church. Pastors Tim Holt and Mike Payne, Mr. Caudill's sons-in-law, will co-officiate. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Vermilion, where the Vermilion Veterans Council will conduct military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to: A Fresh Wind Church, 1115 Milan Ave., Amherst OH 44001. Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.