Richard Caudell, Jr.

Richard (Rick) Clements Caudell Jr., 62, of Cashiers, lost his fight against a sudden illness on Sunday, Aug. 14. Born on June 17, 1954 in West Palm Beach, Florida, he was the son of the late Richard Clements Caudell Sr. and Patricia Anne Caudell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son in law, Gregory Scott Brown. Rick is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Caudell Brown of Franklin; son, Justin Caudell of Cashiers; soon to be daughter in law, Meagan Lindsey of Cashiers; and the mother of his children, Rebecca Marks of Franklin. Prior to retirement earlier this year, Rick spent his career in the electronics industry. For more than 20 years in West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, Florida, he was involved in the production and distribution of electronic components for the nation’s leading tech companies -- a job that gave him the opportunity to travel to plants around the world. At the height of his career, he offered buyer support for AT&T, Square D, Schlumberger and Mercury Marine. At the turn of the century, new opportunities brought Rick and his family to Cashiers, where they had a timeshare and frequently visited. Rick shifted his electronics knowledge from working for the buyer to the customer, managing sales and inventory for Mountain Electronics in Glenville. He later was employed as a cable technician for Christy Cablevision before closing out his career with RadioShack and Staples. When he was not working, Rick was a bowler (winning many accolades in South Florida) and enjoyed watching football and NASCAR. He was a lifelong Miami Dolphins fan, holding season tickets and attending games during the team’s greatest decades. When it was time for a vacation, he looked forward to spending time with family, especially when it meant going on a cruise. A memorial service for Rick will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31 at Appalachian Funeral Home, 165 Skyland Drive, Sylva, NC 28779. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123, www.cancer.org; Haywood Street Respite, P.O. Box 2982, Asheville, NC 28802, https://haywood-street.networkforgood.com. Condolences may be made at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com.