Don Caughran

James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel 4278 Lafayette Street Marianna, Florida 32446 850.482.2332 Donald Higgins Caughran, 81, of Malone, Florida, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, August 29, 2014 after a courageous battle with interstitial lung disease. Mr. Caughran was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, but he had been a resident of Malone, Florida for the last 44 years. He was a very active member of the First Baptist Church of Malone. He was a retired educator with the Jackson County School System. He taught band in schools for 42 years and in the service for 4 years. Mr. Caughran started playing the trumpet at ten years of age, playing the saxophone at the age of thirteen, and by fourteen he was playing in dance bands all over Tennessee. He graduated from Central High School in Fayetteville, Tennessee and later attended George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee where he received a bachelor's degree in fine arts. He later received a Master's of Music degree from the University of Georgia. Mr. Caughran was preceded in death by his biological father Carl Whitson, biological mother Hazel Curtis Whitson, adoptive father Elmer Ross Caughran, adoptive mother Rose Anna Higgins Caughran, and grandson Thomas Kendall Hamm. He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years Helen Caughran; daughter Rosanne Caughran with children Shawn Gause and wife Minnie and their 2 children, Dekle Willis and wife Cassie and their 3 children; son Ross Caughran and wife Sissy with children, Austin, Aaron, along with Lyle Caughran and Michael Caughran and wife Jessie and their child; daughter Cathy Hamm and husband Kenny with their child Stephanie Ward and husband Keith; step-daughter Angie Tyler and husband Jim and their children Mary Helen Smith and husband Vince, JD Tyler and wife Megan, along with Julie Smith and husband Steve and their two children; sister Wilma Jones and husband Henry of Hendersonville, NC; and sister Margaret Thomason of Dalton, GA. Mr. Caughran also leaves 8 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m., Sunday, August 31, 2014 at First Baptist Church Malone, Florida with Rev. John Smith and Pastor Vince Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Lovedale Baptist Church Cemetery with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church. Flowers will be accepted or donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Covenant Hospice of Marianna (4215 Kelson Ave Suite E, Marianna, FL 32446) or First Baptist Church Malone (P.O. Box 98 Malone, FL 32445).