Editorials - 04/03/03

Eldon Cabe's death leaves void on town board

Cabe, a native and lifelong resident of Jackson County who retired as the county's solid waste and equipment maintenance supervisor in 1996, will be sorely missed, according to his fellow board members.

We'll miss him, too.

A plain-spoken, quiet man, Cabe was unfailingly patient and willing to answer our questions. He always returned calls, and he offered us all the information available to him.

Eldon was the kind of man who made everyone around him feel better. Even during the final months of his illness, Cabe had smiles and kind words for those he encountered. He was an unselfish, caring man, and it showed.

"He came to a lot of board meetings when he really didn't feel good and still contributed," said Sylva board member Maurice Moody. "He did try - particularly while he was sick - to be there and do his part. He was an all-around good fellow."

Everyone we talked to spoke of his devotion to his family and the way he doted on his grandchildren. Most praised his common sense and calmness in looking for solutions to difficult problems. Others spoke of his dry wit and his ability to bring humor into everyday conversations.

Above all, Eldon seemed to pride himself on being fair-minded and hearing all sides before making a decision. Quiet and thoughtful, Eldon didn't rush to judgment but tried to do what was best for all concerned.

Eldon wanted the best for his town, and he worked to achieve it. As chairman of the solid waste committee, he worked to find solutions to thorny problems associated with residential and commercial trash collection. His input into the street committee's improvement plan will result in "the betterment of town streets," according to fellow board member Eldridge Painter.

"Dependable" is how Eldon's former boss, longtime Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Hooper, described Eldon, and we think that's a pretty good one-word summary.

Eldon's county, town and family could depend on him to shoulder his share of any burden and carry it forward in an effort to improve the community he loved.

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