Rilla Lewis Caldwell, wife of James T. Caldwell, of Lakeside died January 9, 2009 at Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low. She was the fifth of eight children of William Henry and Nancy (Whipple) Lewis. She was born at home, delivered by her grandmother, Emma Whipple, a midwife, on December 21, 1923. She grew up in Show Low and graduated from Snowflake Union High School. Rilla married James T. Caldwell in 1946. They spent the rest of their life together in Lakeside, AZ. They owned Caldwell's Market in Lakeside for many years. She served on the School Board and worked for some years as a teacher's aide. She was a member of Daughter's of the Utah Pioneers. Rilla loved to garden, crochet, sew, tole paint and make quilts and afghans for her family, especially for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was a gracious and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. She was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved serving in many callings as a Primary Teacher (30 years), Primary President, Relief Society President, Stake Librarian and many others.

Rilla is survived by her husband of 62 years, James T. Caldwell; four children, Sylvia (Bruce) Rowell of Show Low, AZ, Ronnie (Jim) Bunker of Chino Valley, AZ, Rodney (Glenna) Caldwell of Barnwell, Alberta, Canada, Stephen (Tobey) Caldwell of Lakeside, AZ; 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters, Hilda Frost of Tempe, AZ, Viola Reed of Snowflake, AZ.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Willard; sisters, Ella McCleve, Marbry Vance, Doris Rogers and Mildred Turley.

Funeral services will be held in the Pinetop-Lakeside Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1520 Church Lane, Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 10:00AM with a visitation 1 hour prior to services. A visitation will also be held Friday, January 16, 2009 at Owens Livingston Mortuary-White Mountain Chapel from 6:00-8:00PM. Interment will be in the Lakeside Cemetery.