Mildred (Millie) Mason Caton, 69, of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., died Fri., July 3, 2009, in Ft. Walton after a brief illness. Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Pleasant Home Baptist Church. Interment followed in the church cemetery. The Rev. Fred Kelley officiated.
Millie was a native of Pleasant Home. She was awarded the Carnegie Medal and a scholarship to college for her heroic effort in saving the lives of two people who were drowning. She chose Auburn University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and where she met her husband.
She began her career as an educator in Brewton in 1963 and retired only two years ago from the Okaloosa County (Fla.) School District. She started her career in Okaloosa County in 1972 at Max Bruner Jr. Junior High School teaching physical education and science and coaching basketball, softball and track. She spent her last years as a science teacher and as a guidance counselor at Choctawhatchee High School, where she helped many grateful students make important life decisions.
Millie not only touched the lives of students, but also of her many friends. She loved people and always had a great story to tell. Some of her friends have described Millie as extremely intelligent, fiercely loyal and incredibly patient. She was also happy-go-lucky, had an easy laugh and was very passionate about causes in which she believed, including Auburn football. She also loved going to Colorado to ski and always aggressively attacked the slopes. Only two months ago she was “zip-lining” through the rain forest in Honduras.
Her husband, Jerry Caton, preceded her in death.
She is survived by her two children and their spouses, Marty and Tommy White and Hunter Caton and Nicole Timms; five grandchildren, Nicolle Manuel, Dylan Manuel, Athen White, Vance White and Caleb Caton; and a brother and sister-in-law, Dave and Reba Mason of Milton, Fla.
Pallbearers were Luke Mason, Carson Mason, Garrett Mason, John Miller III, Josh Bell and Savage Bell.
Family and friends unable to attend may sign the online guest registry at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.