Terry Lee Cassell

SAN ANGELO Terry Lee Cassell, 64, of San Angelo passed away on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at his home after a year long illness. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, in Robert Massie Riverside Chapel. Arrangements are with Robert Massie Funeral Home. Terry was born on Dec. 18, 1946, in Gloversville, N.Y. He was raised along the Mohawk River in the Village of Fonda, N.Y. He joined the Navy in February 1964, at age 17, and trained in special ops at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. His assignments included the North Atlantic, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean Sea, and the South China Sea. He received an honorable discharge in December 1967. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. In 1969, Terry met Patricia Hall. The two were married on June 12, 1971. That same year, Terry became employed with the City of Johnstown, N.Y. as a police officer. In July 1979, the Cassells decided to move to a warmer climate, choosing San Angelo, Texas, as their new home. In 1980, Terry was hired as a patrolman for the San Angelo Police Department. Terry retired from the San Angelo Police Department in 1989, after suffering extensive neck and back injuries in a car accident. In February 2011, Terry was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. After undergoing several rounds of chemo therapy and a bone marrow transplant, Terry lost the battle. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Wiltey. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Cassell of San Angelo; two daughters, Beth Cassell of San Angelo, and Marcie Downing and her husband Cody of Canyon Lake, Texas; three grandchildren, Sam Wilkerson and Jay Wilkerson of San Angelo, and River Downing of Canyon Lake; seven sisters, Karen Saunders and her husband Bob of Gloversville, N.Y., Jeannie Jackson and her husband Steve of Randall, N.Y., Kelly TenEyck and her husband Ron, Robin Wemple and her husband Jan, Lori Avery and her husband Doug, all of Fonda, N.Y., Mary Gardner and her husband Wayne of Fort Hunter, N.Y., and Stacy Ashley and her husband Dave of Fort Plain, N.Y.; three brothers, Eddie Wiltey and his wife Flavia of San Rafael, Calif., Johnny Wiltey and his wife Michelle of Fonda, N.Y., and Donnie Wiltey of Elk City, Okla.; several nieces and nephews; and his dear friend Tony Carr and his wife Bridget of San Angelo. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hospice of San Angelo, or a charity of your choice. Terry's obituary and online memorial guestbook may be viewed online at www.robertmassie.com.