Bertie Jahwandee McCasland

My mother had hazel eyes. All-knowing. All-loving. Sometimes sad. Sometimes mischievous. Sometimes fiery, just like her mother. Her eyes saw a lot in her almost ninety years --- high school basketball games, piano recitals, spoiled dogs and grandchildren, and the backroads of the United States as my father's co-pilot. Together, they built a life across Texas, Arkansas and Virginia for over seventy years. But her eyes were always turned upward.

And on March 6, 2026, she joined her husband, James Donald McCasland, her parents, Jess and Mamie Murphree. sisters Theopal Ellsworth, LaVerne Zachary and brother, J.B. Murphree in heaven. Left to cherish are memory are daughter, Jalana McCasland (LouEllen), grandsons, Samuel and Jacob McCasland of Virginia, sister, Geraldine Thompson (Phil) of Oklahoma and brother Paul Murprhee (Brenda) of Dallas, and many nieces and nephews.

Some things she did by feel and not by sight – like making beautiful quilts, crotched blankets, jigsaw puzzles and playing the piano – her left-hand playing chords while her right hand found the melody. Her beautiful alto voice will be reunited with Dad's bass and the heavenly choir.

A graveside memorial service will be Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Rockwall, Texas.