October 5, 1937- April 18, 2025

Nelda Jean McCauley, 87, of Canton passed away peacefully in Arlington on April 18, 2025. She was born on October 5, 1937, in Canton to Homer Dewitt Wages Sr. and Della Mae Crabtree Wages. She was the youngest girl of 11 children.

A memorial service was held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Eubank Funeral Home, Rev. Lynette Solomon officiating.

Nelda grew up in the Wallace and Canton area. She graduated from Canton High School in 1956 and attended Tyler Junior College. On March 26, 1959, she married her one true love, Wiley ‘Buzz’ McCauley and together they built a beautiful life together.

Nelda served as an elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Canton and counted money during second service for years after the family moved to Arlington at the First Presbyterian Church in Arlington. She and Buzz were in the Mariners group that went family camping in a pop-up trailer for years. They even went with four families to Washington D.C. and back in the pop-up trailer. She reared three chil-dren and helped raise three grandchildren. Nelda attended Tyler Junior College and went to work as the Secretary for Canton ISD working for Norris Birdwell.

On occasion, she talked about picking cotton as a child with her brother, Homer. When she got older, she and Carson walked to town and bought the groceries on Granny Wages list. Nelda never learned to swim, she said, because Granny said if they got in the pond to swim, she would cut off a switch from the peach tree in the backyard. That discouraged swimming.

Nelda worked for Mr. Hackney selling movie tickets at the Plaza on Friday nights. She watched a lot of movies in her day. Nelda enjoyed painting class when Michael and Renee were little and went to one of the church mem-ber’s mom’s for art lessons. The family cherishes and still have several of her paintings.

Nelda later owned a janitorial business when Machelle was in high school, and everybody worked at the business for several years.

She later went to work at Vought AirCraft and printed secret documents and worked in the mail room. When Buzz retired, so did Nelda, and they moved back to Canton. Nelda worked as an election judge a few years and served as the First Presbyterian Church Secretary and Treasurer. She loved being on the Organizing Committee for the yearly 1956 Canton Class reunion. Nelda was very excited about gardening. Her knock out roses that bloomed a few weeks ago are in her picture. Nelda was an avid shopper. She enjoyed her weekly trips to Brookshires. Bath and Bodyworks was a favorite shop, and she never left there empty handed.

She loved the Lord and her great grandchildren. She loved them all equally, but she was a bit over joyful that after three children, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, she finally got one with blue eyes like hers. Nelda would light up anytime she knew any of the great grandkids were coming over, especially in the last few years.

She was very proud of her children and grandchildren. She loved all of them dearly but focused on who-ever she thought needed help the most. We will all miss “M” as she was called since she had grandkids, but we are happy that she is united in heaven with her family that has been waiting for her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Homer Dewitt Wages Sr. and Della Mae Wages; beloved husband of almost 57 years, Wiley ‘Buzz’ Hayden Mc-Cauley; and her eight brothers and sisters.

Nelda is survived by her children: Machelle McCauley Athon and husband, Mark, of Arlington; John Mi-chael McCauley of North Richland Hills; and Deborah Renee McCauley of Dallas; grandchildren: Christo-pher Alan Athon and wife, Leigh Ann, of Dallas; Amanda Machelle Athon of Arlington; and Aleasha Athon Surprenant and husband, Travis, of Midlothian; great-grandchildren: Reid and Cole Athon of Dal-las; and Emma Athon and Ellie Surprenant of Midlothian; siblings: Joyce Barbee of Jacksonville; and Car-son Wages and wife, Sherry, of Palestine; and host of other family and friends.