Helen Lea Reffett Caudill, 85, of Wallingford, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2025, at her home. She was surrounded by her loving family.
She was born April 24, 1940, in Greenup County, a daughter of the late William McKinley and Mildred Hughes Reffett.
Helen was born the middle of 13 children to poor hardworking farmers. Their home had a dirt floor. Life wasn’t easy. They worked hard and succeeded.
She started watching her younger brothers and sisters and running the family house at nine years of age while her parents and older siblings worked the fields. Because of this many of her siblings looked to her as a second mother.
Recently, Mom said she had no idea she had touched so many lives. One good thing that came out of her having pancreatic cancer was that it allowed time for people to visit her, reminisce and tell how they felt about her. She was a kind and generous person with a work ethic like no other. No one left her house hungry or empty handed. All the neighbor kids knew her as Nanny. She would grandmother everyone and was quick to inform them if they got out of line.
She maintained friendships with many childhood friends and past renters. Mom has been described as not the most bubbly person in the world. She was brutally honest and she didn’t care if you liked it or not. She believed the truth won’t hurt unless it should.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandy (Johnny) Mattox of Wallingford and Brenda Caudill (Edward) Barnes of Lawrenceburg; two sisters, JoAnn Beauman of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nancy (John) Stafford of Ashland; one brother, Gary (Katrina) Reffett of Greenup; four grandchildren, Tanner Floyd, Dillon Caudill, Micheala Caudill, and Marissa Barnes; and three great-grandchildren, Henry, Sadie, and Haygen. Many other family members and friends also survive who will sadly miss her.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Conard Caudill; one son, Stanley Caudill; five brothers, William Reffett, Everett Reffett, Willis Reffett, Jim Reffett, and McKinley Reffitt Jr.; four sisters, Zola Reffett, Rose Brown, Ida Lowe and Mandy Thompson.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Tollesboro Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 11918 KY 57 at Tollesboro, with Bro. Jack Edwards and Bro. Herbie Stallard officiating.
Friends may visit from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2025, at Tollesboro Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Stanley Caudill Memorial Scholarship c/o Plymouth-Shiloh FFA Alumni, 1784 Baseline Road, Plymouth, OH 44865
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.globefamilyfc.com.
