Russell Caldwell

Russell Harvey Caldwell, 85, of Reelfoot Lake passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, July 16, 2023.
A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 20, 2023, at White-Ranson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends beginning at 11 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be held at a later date.
Mr. Caldwell was born in Union City on Nov. 13, 1937, son of the late Chester Waterfield Caldwell and the late Anne Russell Caldwell. He married Donna Hauser Caldwell on July 24, 1960. She survives.
He was the founder of Caldwell’s Office Outfitters in Union City and then expanded into Jackson. He loved everything Reelfoot Lake and was a co-founder of the Reelfoot Lake Waterfowl Festival. He has been Chairman for Ducks Unlimited, authored many Reelfoot Lake books, and was a world champion trap shooter and an avid duck and goose hunter. Mr. Caldwell was a Cub Scout Leader and loved teaching those young men. His stories will live on forever.
While at First Baptist Church in Union City from 1963-1993, he served as a deacon and taught the youth Training Union class and Sunday School classes and served on many committees. He was a chaperone for Centrifuge Camp for multiple years. In 1993, he moved his church membership to Samburg Baptist Church and served as a deacon until the time of his death and served as the treasurer until 2022. Mr. Caldwell also taught many youth Sunday School classes at Samburg Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Caldwell is survived by two daughters, Patricia Moore of Troy and DeLise Caldwell of Reelfoot Lake; one son, Robert Caldwell of Jackson; six grandchildren, Annelise Moore, Matthew Caldwell, Leandra Moore, Russell Moore, Meredyth Moore and Madelynn Moore; three great-grandchildren, Anniston and Alannis Moore and Normandy Boucher; sister-in-law, Joy Forrester (RJ); brother-in-law, Bobby Hauser; three cousins, George Caldwell of Union City, Barbara Adkins of Clarksville and Robert Caldwell of St. Charles, Mo.; five nephews; three nieces; and 14 great-nieces and great-nephews.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Harold Russell Caldwell; two sisters and their spouses, Edna and Robert Adkins and Ann and Harmon Pierce; and one sister-in-law and her spouse, Harolyn and Bobby Driver.
Condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home website: www.white-ranson.com.

Published in The Messenger 7.19.23