EDMOND, Okla. — Don Lee Caffee, born in Elk City, Okla. on September 9, 1934, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 7, 2015 at The Inn at Bradford Village in Edmond, Okla.
Don graduated from Hammon High School (Hammon, OK) in 1952. He graduated from Panhandle State College in Goodwell, Okla., with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and a Master’s Degree from Emporia State College in Emporia in Education Administration. He served as music instructor in towns across western Oklahoma and south central Kansas, including Balko, Goodwell, Keys in Oklahoma and Fowler, Coldwater, Protection, and Ellinwood in Kansas. After his last 17 years of service, he retired from Principal of Ellinwood Public Schools and drove a school bus until he turned 70. He was a friend to whomever he met and always had a smile on his face, with a joke in mind. Don had a servant’s heart and his life story exemplified the priorities he held dearest in his heart: church, family, and education.
Throughout his career in education Don served others as a music teacher, principal, and bus driver. He will be remembered as coach, mentor, loyal friend, counselor, minister, elder, dedicated and loving husband and father, and dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. It wasn’t what Don said or did that will be most remembered, but how he made others he met feel.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and LaVona Fears Caffee and his beloved wife of 45 years, Ann Overstreet Caffee.
Don is survived by his cherished children, LeAnn Caffee Jacobson of Stillwater, Okla., Carmen Caffee Jones and son-in-law, Mark of Oklahoma City, Okla., Donald Brent Caffee and daughter-in-law, Cheryl of Edmond, Okla., and Pam Caffee Miller and son-in-law, Nathan of Ellinwood. He leaves behind his treasured grandchildren, Shannon Jacobson Williams and husband, Cory, Brayden Miller and wife, Niki, Bryce Jones, Jelea Jones Ulberg and husband, Daniel, Taryn Jacobson Evans and husband, Tommy, Breauna Miller Allison and husband, Caleb, and James Caffee. He dearly loved his great-grandchildren, Ava, Kase, Olivia, Hudson, Canton, Hope, and Jude.
Everyone is welcome to come join the celebration of Don’s life story and memorialize his passing. Because of his faith and commitment God and church, along with so many relatives and longtime friends, there will be two services at the following places: Memorial Road Church of Christ, 2221 East Memorial Road Oklahoma City, Okla. at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 14; and Great Bend Church of Christ, 1122 Stone St. Great Bend, at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 16. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the local Church of Christ, or National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (NPCF) at P.O. Box 1848, Longmont, CO 80502, www.npcf.us/donate, or call NPCF at 800-859-6723.

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 12, 2015**