Laura May Bills Caudill

Fun, loving and a very giving person was just a few ways to describe Laura May Bills Caudill. She never knew a stranger, was accepting and open minded. Laurie was truly a special lady.

The year 1961 saw Alan Shepard make the first U.S. space flight, the Peace Corps was established by President John F. Kennedy, the construction of the Berlin Wall began, Pampers started selling their first disposable diapers and the first Six Flags Amusement Park was opened. On January 16, 1961, no news could be more exciting that year to Paul C. and Betty J. (Dalton) Bills as they announced the birth of their daughter, Laura May Bills in Whitley County, Indiana.

Growing up in Columbia City, Laurie was adventurous and she enjoyed cheerleading. She graduated Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1979. She had special training and took courses for Corrections, Probation and Home Detention. On December 29, 2017 she remarried Wayne Caudill. She worked at Betty's Smart Shop for approximately 12 years and was a Corrections Officer for Whitley County with 12 years of service. She was a member of the American Legion Post 253, North Webster, the Lupus Foundation, H.O.G. Women's Chapter and Association.

Out of everything, family, friends and her pets were the most important to her. She and Wayne had a side business of setting up and running karaoke at various places and she also enjoyed singing herself. Laurie had a special group of friends that they nicknamed their group as the "Grey's Group" and they would get together on Thursday night's to watch Grey's Anatomy.

After battling illnesses for the past 15 years, Laura May Bills Caudill, 57, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at her home. Survivors include her husband, Wayne Caudill; mother, Betty Bills, of Columbia City; brother, Dennis E. Bills, of Columbia City; sister, Nova J. (David) Richards, of Bradenton, Fla.; daughter, Bettnie LaRue, of Noblesville; grandson, Jaxon; nephews, Dominick Bills, Jakob Bills, Paul J. Bills, Jason Minnick; nieces, Mandie Bills, Emily Romine and Jama White; several great-nieces and nephews; and her dog, Obie. She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Bills; daughter, Cora May LaRue; brother, Randy Bills; grandparents, Thelma O. and Charles Bills and Joseph and Beulah Dalton; uncles, Wayne Dalton, Larry Bills; aunts, Grace Loe, Margie Geiger, Josie Nester and Neile Ternet; and best companions, her dog Punkie Poo and her cat Pawsie.

Visitation is 11 to 1:45 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. She will be interred at South Park (Annex) Cemetery where she will be laid to rest alongside her daughter, her father and her brother. Laurie requested anyone sending flowers to send perennial flowers so they can be replanted and grow each year or to send a memorial donation in her memory to Heartland Hospice. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences.