Tara Denise Cauthen, 42, a life-long resident of Lakeland, FL, went to be with the Lord on November 21, 2018 after a courageous battle with cancer. As a humble servant of the Lord, Tara's faith was evident in all aspects of her life. Tara loved to help others; she prayed for those in need, gave generously to multiple charities, and devoted time to various mission projects to spread the word of God. For 37 years, she was an active member of Church at the Mall. Tara was full of life and had a love of learning. Always a student, her curiosity often came to the forefront through her varied interests, either in travel or the pages of a good book. After graduating from University of South Florida, she enjoyed a 20-year career at Wendell Watson Elementary where she was passionate about enriching the lives of children. Her commitment to teaching included obtaining her National Board Certification and being honored as Teacher of the Year in 2010. Ever an optimist, she was often found with encouraging words and a constant smile. Tara will always be remembered as a loving daughter and sister, dedicated teacher, cherished friend and faithful follower of Christ. She is survived by her loving mother, Linda Cauthen; sister, Christina Cauthen (Will Wong); aunt, Brenda Bethea; uncle, Jerry Cauthen (Debra); cousins, Rhonda Gordon (Mark), Ron Johnson (Lisa), Dena Didas (Roy), Tiffany Calvert and Shanna Thompson (Bryan). Tara is preceded in death by her father, Jimmy Cauthen, and her grandparents. Visitation will be held Tues. Nov. 27th from 4-6 pm at Church at the Mall Chapel, followed by a 6 pm service at the church. A graveside service will be conducted on Wed. Nov. 28th at 10 am at Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland.