Carolyn Sue Cassada

A Tribute to My Wife – By Melvin Cassada

It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of my dear best and special friend, my wife Carolyn Sue (Winfield) Cassada, at our home in Ola, AR, on September 10, 2025. Following a private family committal in the Chapel of Light, cremation arrangements were provided by the J. Herman Humphrey Dignity Cremation Center under the direction of Humphrey Funeral Service. A memorial service will be Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Plainview with Pastor James Miller officiating. A private burial will be held at a later time in Hatfield, AR.

Carolyn was a lady of grace and unwavering love for her family and friends. Carolyn would give you the blouse or shirt off her back if you asked her. Carolyn was the type of person that wouldn't sit still. She was, at all times, doing something around the house or outside in her flower beds. She was also a good beautician in Mena, AR.

Carolyn was born to Nathaniel Edward Winfield and Flora Louise (Fortner) Winfield on February 16, 1947, at the Ridman Hospital in Mena, AR. She built a home that was not only a place of comfort and safety but also a haven of love, kindness and compassion. She had her hands full trying to keep me straight. She managed to do it with the love that she had in that big heart of hers.

In the course of our lives, we lived in Dumas, Pine Bluff, and Hatfield Cove, all Arkansas towns. After leaving the fine state of Arkansas, we went on the road, as a team, driving an eighteen-wheeler. Now, can you imagine that little lady sitting behind a big steering wheel at 100 lbs. and five feet tall? I'm here to tell you that she could drive that rig as well as I could. We went to every state in the continental U.S. except Alaska and Maine. We took two trips to Canada with a load of rice cakes to Calgary, Alberta. She drove with me in the bunk, and I was sick as a dog with a stomach bug. She would see to the loading of the freight and the unloading of it at the destination.

While we lived in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, I got a job with Security Services. I was made a Captain and carried a .357 mag. pistol. I was in charge of four other officers, and we did our tours in the Housing Authority in Pine Bluff. While I was at this job, Carolyn was accepted as a Prison Guard at the Women's Prison there. Now picture this. 100 lbs. and 5 feet tall. A prison guard but she did her job. Just like she was supposed to. Like she had been trained.

Carolyn Cassada was a dear lady and a kind lady to all that she knew. After some years went by, my four children accepted her into the family as their mom.

She is survived by her husband, Melvin Jim Cassada of Ola, AR; Penny Sullivan of Westmoreland, TN; Patty Denise Cassada of Lafayette, TN; David W. Cassada and Shawn Cassada of Adolpus, KY; Christina Marie Chambers of Springfield, TN; Stephen and Nancy Winfield of Mena, AR; Larry Winfield of Hatfield, AR; and Rita Louise Murray Kenner and Terry Kenner of Mena, AR. She has 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Now if that isn't a family, I don't know what is.

Carolyn was a member of the First Baptist Church of Plainview, AR, and loved her church family.

Carolyn's internet obituary and online guestbook can be found at www.humphreyfuneral.com.