Dortha Edvlue Caudill passed away at Holdenville General Hospital on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at the age of 73 years.

Dortha was the daughter of Doss Lee Green & Zelda (Sparks) Green, born on August 20, 1937, in Holdenville, Oklahoma. She was brought up in the Gum Springs community and attended Gum Springs School, Hulsey School, and Central School in Holdenville. She was married to James Buford Caudill on June 18, 1955, at Wagoner, Oklahoma, wearing a pink dress and her groom wearing a little pink too, because they both loved the color.

Dortha & James lived in Holdenville for eight years, then moved to Modesto, California in 1963 and returned to Oklahoma in 1972 to live in Wewoka, in the homeplace where they spent the rest of their lives. Together they owned and operated D&J Auto Salvage for many years, then sold the salvage yard and established Caudill Tire Sales. James was also minister of the Pentecostal Holiness faith, and Dortha was at his side while he served as pastor and evangelist, she herself a licensed missionary with the Pentecostal Holiness Church. She was a homemaker at heart, and loved spending leisure time at home doing crochet or tending gardens and flower beds. She loved reading, and often remarked to her family that she traveled the world through her books. She loved Art of any kind. Most of all, she loved the times when her family was all together for dinner or some special event. She was much loved and will be sorely missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Doss Green and Zelda Green Santos; her beloved husband of 52 years, James Caudill, Sr.; two sons, Michael in 195___ and Jeff in 2008; one sister, Rosa Green and two brothers, Shelly Lee Green and Jerry Santos.

She is survived by six children: Doris Brown and husband Larry, of Holdenville, Renee Foster of Wewoka, Annette Conley and husband Michael, of Holdenville, Jamie Caudill, also of Holdenville, Gregory Caudill and wife Dee'L, of Wewoka, and Joshua Caudill of Ada; eleven grandchildren: Michael Hamilton and Amy Cottrell, both of Holdenville, Tiffany Begley of Shawnee, Michael Foster of Holdenville, Dava Hines of Shawnee, Michael Conley and Shawn Conley, both of Holdenville, Cody Caudill, Chad Caudill and Cristi Caudill, all of Holdenville, and Caylee Caudill of Wewoka; thirteen great grandchildren, and one soon to arrive; two sisters, Gayle Santos of Modesto, California and Pamela Santos of Washington; one sister-in-law, Shirley Green Cash of Ceres, California; numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and many, many friends.

Funeral services will be Thursday, May 5, 2011, 1:00 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church in Holdenville, and Dortha will be laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery in Wewoka.