Margie Lois Shuler Caughron

In the fall of 1924, William T. and Laura Anthony Shuler were living in the eastern end of Cades Cove with two small children. Laura was nine months pregnant, and Will had been working at logging camps high in the Smoky Mountains between Tennessee and North Carolina. When those logging camps closed, the young Shuler family moved to a small house on the banks of the Little Tennessee River in Calderwood. Here, Margie Lois Shuler was born on October 27, 1924. While Lois was still a toddler, the Shulers moved back to Cades Cove where three more babies were born by 1935 when the National Park Service evicted them and most of the families living in the Cove because they were now living in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Will got a job with the Aluminum Company of America, and the family moved close to Maryville, where their last child was born. By 1942 Lois had met, dated, and married Kermit Caughron (of Cades Cove) who promptly moved her back to Cades Cove where he lived on rented NPS land, farmed and was the current postmaster. Lois and Kermit moved into the Dan Lawson log house in Cades Cove in 1946; in 1952 he tore down the Cable School and built a new house close to the Dan Lawson cabin. There they raised their four children without electricity or telephones and grew large gardens every summer, preserving almost all the food that wasn’t served up for the family. They had orchards that grew peaches, apples, plums, cherries, grapes, strawberries, blueberries and chestnuts. Lois made and canned many jars full of delicious jellies, juices, and jams for her family. Their honeybees gathered nectar to make delicious honey for their table.

Lois spent many winter afternoons making quilts for their beds and clothes for her two daughters until purchasing a treadle sewing machine in 1953. Lois could have written the book on sustainability.

Not only was she a loving mother and wife who took care of her family but she loved learning. The children would bring home books from the library, and Lois and Kermit read them, too. On cold, snowy nights when visibility was low in the Cove, a park ranger told us that he would use the light from the oil lamp at the Caughrons to help keep him on the road. Lois read everything she could find. Years later after leaving the Cove she had kept up with the news and showed a great interest in what was happening in the world.

Their four children would leave the cove after marrying.

Her home in the cove was visited by people from all walks of life from Supreme Court Justices to Hollywood actors, U.S. Presidents, world travelers, and Appalachian Trail hikers. She was always gracious, treating each with kindness, respect and consideration. Our Mama was one of those incredibly rare people who never spoke unkindly of anyone.

Kermit passed away in 1999, and Lois moved near Maryville where for the next 25 years she enjoyed the benefits of electricity, telephones, television, and not having to carry drinking water from the spring or firewood for the fireplace or heater. Lois lived a complete life, celebrating her 100th birthday on October 27, 2024, exchanging this earthly existence for a heavenly one on December 3, 2024. To fulfil Mama’s wishes to stay at her new home, Roy, Kay and Ruth shared the care over the years.

The family would like to express our sincere appreciation to Taylor and Sue for their loving care for our Mother for the past several months.

Lois was preceded in death by husband, Kermit Caughron; son-in-law, John P. Davis, Jr.; parents, William T. and Laura Anthony Shuler; father-in-law and mother-in-law, George and Matilda Cordelia “Delia” Myers Caughron; brothers-in-law, Joe and Jay Caughron; sisters, Dorothy (Luther) Davis; Julia (Charles) Headrick; Bobbie (Glen) Embry; brothers, Edward, Max (Louise), and Fred (Phuong) Shuler; great- great-grandson, Joseph Waters.

Lois is survived by sons, Rex (Judy) Caughron, Roy (Krista) Caughron; daughters, Ruth (the late John P. Davis, Jr.) and Kay (Michael) McMahan; grandchildren, Amy (Matt) Hudson, Rebecca Renfro, Rexanne Owens, Jodi (Jake) Waitzman; John P. III (Rhonda) and Chris K. (Melinda) Davis; David (Michelle) McMahan; and Kara (Jimmy) Potts; great grandchildren, (Macy, Reese and Bryce Hudson; Cody, Payton and Bailey Renfro; Micah (Brittney) Waters; Conner and Elana Owens; James and Isaac Waitzman; John P. III (Rachel) Davis, Johnna (Jordan) McGinnis, Jebediah (Caroline) Davis, Ryan Davis, Christopher Smelcer, Taylor (Logan) Thomas; Tucker, Ansley and Liam McMahan; Lilly and Katie Potts; great-great grandchildren, Weston Waters; John P. V, Judah, Jackson, Jubilee, and Jocelyn Davis; Stella, Eli, and Cash McGinnis; Clara and Giles Davis; Finley Smelcer, Andi Jane and Myla Jean Davis. Lois is also survived by special nieces and nephews, Joan Houser, Vicki (Roger) Williamson, Bill Davis, William Shuler and Arnie Embry.

A guest register will be available from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Friday, December 6th. The family will receive friends from 12:00 - 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 7th at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home and a service will follow at 2:00 PM with Rev. George Macht officiating. The interment will immediately follow at Grandview Cemetery.