Wendell Kendall Cayten

He was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on October 6, 1929, the fourth child of Wilmer Wyatt Cayten and Nora Ryan Cayten. During his youth, the family moved to Lamar County where he attended Purvis High School, graduating with Math Honors. Wendell enlisted in the U. S. Air Force after high school. After some years of service and training he became a Flight Engineer on U. S. Air Force transport and weather reconnaissance planes during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He retired after 20 years of service.

He then enrolled at University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg to study accounting. After graduation he worked as an agent with the Internal Revenue Service for several years before entering private practice as a tax accountant.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents Wilmer and Nora Cayten; one brother, Earl Leonce Cayten; three sisters Vivian Oneta Cayten, Myra Evelyn Cayten, and Ella Rose Cayten.

Family members include two sisters, Sylvia Cayten Flinn of Northbrook, IL; Donna Cayten Higgins of Scottsdale, AZ; a host of several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews; great-great nieces and great-great nephews that reside in Illinois, Ohio, Arizona, Massachusetts, and New York.

Per his wishes, private burial will be in Little Black Creek Cemetery, Lumberton, next to his parents and brother.