Denise Jean Hurst Caudill, age 45, of Tazewell, Tennessee, was born on September 23, 1973, and passed away at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, TN on April 16, 2019, with family by her side. She professed faith in God at an earlier age and had a personal relationship with God.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Caudill; son, Avery Benson Caudill; mother, Phyllis Hurst; brother, David Hurst; mother-in-law, Lucille Caudill; sister-in-law, Linda Caudill Hill; brother-in-law, Jimmy Dale Caudill; caregiver, Becca Hatfield; and special friends, Michael Swanner and Russell Gibbon. She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Hurst; brother, Gary Hurst; maternal grandparents, Theodore and Mary Powell; paternal grandparents, Sam and Ella Mae Hurst.

At an early age, Denise lost her father. She, then, turned to her big brother, David, for a hand to hold, a shoulder to lean on, and an ear to listen to her. She looked up to him with love, respect, and admiration because he always tried his very best to fill the mighty big shoes of their father. He became not only her big brother, but also, her role model. They have celebrated many good times together, but have also, mourned the losses in their lives together. Even when they did not always agree with one another, they had love, loyalty, respect, and admiration for each other.

The most important of all her accomplishments was being a loving and caring wife of twenty-four years to her husband, Mike, and being an adoring and loving mother to their son, Avery Benson (age10). She met Mike at age sixteen but did not start dating him until she turned seventeen. Their love for one another grew fast and their relationship became a gift of love and strength for one another. Denise will live in the hearts of all her family and friends and will be dearly and lovingly missed, until we meet her again. Her smile will always be with us.

Denise was such a caring and loving person to everyone who met her. She loved keeping in touch with her family and friends, either by telephone or in person. She talked on the telephone every day to her special friend, Sherry Reed. During the time Denise was in the hospital, Sherry never missed a day of calling her to check on her during her illness.

Denise’s skills included studying to become a nurse, which led her to working in the Claiborne County Hospital Admitting Department and Claiborne County Hospital ER. She, also, worked at the Claiborne County Landfill, and later, managed the Department of Safety Driver License Office in Tazewell, TN. Denise was very skilled and knowledgeable in her career choices and excelled in whatever she strived to do.

The family will receive friends 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 19, 2019, with funeral services following at 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Cooke-Campbell Mortuary, Maynardville, TN. The Rev. Jerry Epperson and Rev. Tommy Russell will be officiating. Singers will be the Epperson Family and Karen Mutter. Graveside service and interment will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 20, 2019, at Fairview Cemetery in New Tazewell. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 11:45 a.m. on Saturday to go in the funeral procession. Pallbearers will be Rocky Manning, Mike Petty, Scott Hensley, Billy Ray, Mike Reed, and Russell Gibbons. Arrangements by Cooke-Campbell Mortuary, Maynardville.