Carson E. “Cas” Casell, age 74, passed peacefully in his home on September 13, 2016, after a short battle with cancer, surrounded by his family & loved ones.  In the two weeks prior to his death, he was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to see the impact he made on the lives of so many, thanks to the outpouring of love and visits from so many dear friends, from both near and far.

   Cas was born on January 30, 1942 to Emery and Lee Anna (Parker) Casell in LaFollette, TN.  He married Debbie King on November 23, 1989, at the home of his aunt, Irene Hargraves, in Rose Hill, VA.

   Cas served in the United States Air Force from 1959-1963.  Upon leaving the Air Force, he accepted a civilian position with RCA at the Air Force base in Thule, Greenland as a Ballistics Missile Early Warning System Electronic Technician.  When he returned to the States, he continued his work as an Electronic Technician, first for Motorola and then the Department of Defense.  During this time, Cas also enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration in August 1975.  Cas' career path then took him to a job as Plant Manager for Bigalow Stanford in South Carolina, and finally  to Textron Aerostructures in Nashville, TN, where he worked for 13 years as an Electrical Engineer.  Cas retired from Textron in 1999, at the age of 57.

   Cas was passionate about many things.  He strongly believed in higher education and loved learning new things.  He was a huge Star Trek fan, and had a love of reading, science fiction movies, attending auctions, playing Rummy with his mother-in-law and cards with his poker buddies, following the stock market, and watching the news, the History channel and the Discovery channel.  He will be remembered for his generosity, his wit, and his blunt honesty.  He was an extremely intelligent man, who was always deep in thought, and could converse on any level, on any topic, with anyone. 

   Cas was a lifetime member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, a past member of American Legion Post 5 in Nashville, TN, a current member of American Legion Post 14 in Flora, and a former board member with the Midland Area Agency on Aging.

   Cas is survived by his wife, Debbie; step-daughter whom he loved and considered his own child, Holli (Hilliard) Schremser and husband Adam of Belvidere, IL.; grandson and granddaughter, Alex and Ella Schremser of Belvidere; brother James Casell and wife Joann of Monroe, MI.; brother-in-law Steve King (Susan Signall) of Austin, TX; sisters-in-law Judy (David) Bryden of Flora, Linda (Bud) Martin of Fairview Heights; and Pam King (Rick Bahl) of Dundas; dear and good friends, Russell Hilliard of Geff and Alison Gibson of Flora; aunts Irene Hargraves of VA and Ann Girdner of MI; uncles Rufus and Frank Ball of TX; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved yellow lab Bailey, his mother-in-law Ellen King, his daughter Virginia Casell, and his son Sheldon Casell.

   Cremation rights will be accorded.  A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at Floral Garden of Memories at 2 p.m.  Bud Martin, Steve King, and Russell Hilliard will deliver the eulogies.  Opening & closing prayers will be offered by David Bryden.  Pam King will play Taps.  Alison Gibson will serve as pallbearer.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army.  Arrangements are in the care of Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. 

 

Floral Garden of Memories Cemetery is located 1/2 mile north of the Flora Highway 45/50 North junction.