Joe Thomas Cassady

Joe Thomas Cassady, "Joe T" to his friends, went to be with his Lord on August 18, 2024 at the age of 85. Joe was born January 26, 1939 to Burton J. Cassady, Jr. and Elvina Roesler Cassady in Charlotte, NC.
Joe spent his youth playing sports, specifically basketball, on a neighborhood playground court and only came home when it got dark and his dad would whistle. As an adult, he was able to visit the house he and his sister, Karen – 3 yrs. his senior – grew up in and when he knocked on the door, the man who answered took one look and said "You're the little boy!" It was the man who had purchased the house from Joe's parents many years prior. Needless to say, Joe made an impression on everyone he met no matter how young or old he was at the time.
After graduation from Charlotte Catholic High School in 1957, where he played tennis and was a standout basketball player., he played basketball for Belmont Abbey during Al Maguire's first year as a basketball coach and Joe's mother kept the newspaper clippings to prove his prowess on the court.
From Belmont Abbey to delivering glasses for Bausch & Lomb in a tiny Metropolitan – not an easy feat for someone 6' tall – Joe then went to work for Morrison's Cafeteria Company out of Mobile, AL peeling potatoes in the morning and carving the roast beef in the evening in a Morrison cafeteria in Fort Smith, AR. By the time Joe retired in 1995 after a little over 35 years with Morrison's, he had risen to the office of Executive Vice President for the Business and Industry arm where his territory stretched from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean and included businesses, refineries, hospitals, colleges and even movie studios. He was a brilliant businessman to whom many people turned for advice and wise counsel.
Joe's passion was his family. He loved his family and was so proud of all of his children. Although sometimes a tough taskmaster, Joe's love language was to help them in any way he could and he often did. He would hear or learn of a need and immediately go into action as to how to assist them – never doubting their ability to overcome or solve the issue, but wanting them to know he was always there for them and wanting to somehow "ease the burden" with funds from his "sock drawer".
In addition to his family, Joe loved the outdoors and enjoyed saltwater fishing in Matagorda Bay, hunting white wing dove in Mexico, and playing golf with his friends. He had a picture of the Intracoastal Waterway taken from the pier at his home in Matagorda, TX, his favorite place, that hung on the wall in his study. In earlier days, Joe would sit on the pier or on the porch and watch the tugs pushing their product laden barges through the Intracoastal and past the house. The serenity of the quiet, the lapping of the water and the lights on the tug boats that lit them up like Christmas trees always made him smile and caused him to relax and even after Alzheimer's robbed him of so many things, he would look at that picture and it brought him such peace.
An expensive – did I say expensive I meant extensive pleasure for Joe was Studebakers. This car attracted Joe's attention because his mother drove a Studebaker Lark and we have a picture of a pompadour styled, blonde headed and very "cool" looking young man leaning out the driver's window of her car. In later years when he could afford to indulge a fantasy, he began to collect, drive and show various makes and models of Studebakers. He had pick-ups, a Wagonaire (station wagon with retractable top), a Business Coupe, an Avanti, Silver Hawks, Golden Hawks, Presidents, Larks and even his very first one - a 1955 pink and white Studebaker Commander named 'Peggy Sue' by his wife who was sure he bought it just for her.
Joe had a sly sense of humor that presented itself in his classic retorts such as "Well, Solly Hemus", or "I don't understand all I know about this", or "icka-da-beese", or "You don't want any of this" when ones of the kids would want something sweet, or calling someone "Leroy". While all of these had to be taken in context, he would present them with a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
Joe was a larger-than-life figure. You always knew where you stood with him and that he would render aid in any way he could be it providing someone with a car who needed one, donating to and supporting charities and ministries, and in many cases, on an anonymous basis doing things such as paying for a power pole to be erected near someone's home who couldn't afford it so that they could have power or buying a guitar for a young musician who had to borrow one in order to play praise and worship music.
Joe came to know the Lord as his personal Savior late in life. While he strongly supported his family being involved in their local church, even going so far as to ask Marty if she had studied her lesson, had her Bible with her and then asking what the message had been about, he was in his late 60's almost 70 when he finally gave his life over to the Lord and it happened at FBC Salado. It wasn't easy for a driven, type A personality to give up control, but God sought and pursued Joe, wooing him to Himself through the body of believers who befriended him. And, as the years progressed, you could see Joe soften and once in a while you'd even hear him hum along to a hymn until he finally let go and gave God control. He enjoyed listening to and attending local gospel concerts and you might even catch him tapping his foot to the music. You'd have to appreciate the reach from George Jones to gospel to appreciate this change in Joe. Very early one morning, after a difficult, sleepless night in the hospital, he heard the tune "In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise give me Jesus." by Fernando Ortega. You could see the anxiety and confusion begin to fade as Joe said, "that's so nice" meaning it had penetrated the noise and chaos in his head. What a gift our Father gave him that morning. During his stay, Joe was heard to say to whoever it was that walked in the room "Bottom line, love God first and family next." I guess you could say that Joe had reached the point where he knew what life was all about – even if it was toward the end of his own.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Karen Cassady Keller, and an infant great, great granddaughter, Lottie Griffith. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Margaret (Marty) Mingus Cassady of Salado, daughters Catherine Templeton (Gary) of Fayetteville, AR and Sharon Cassady of Little Rock, AR and sons David Cassady (Jody) of Matagorda, TX and Chad Cassady (Summer) of Lander, WY. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Susanna Cassady Lytle (Austin) of Austin, TX, Elizabeth Templeton Arredondo (Devon) of Cave Springs, AR, Laura Templeton Morrow (Eric) of Elkins, AR, and Wade Cassady, Hank Cassady and Harlon Cassady of Lander, WY., 6 great grandchildren, as well as 2 nieces, 3 nephews and their families.
He will be greatly missed but not for long. We rejoice that we will one day be reunited and that is the hope that sustains us as we say a temporary goodbye to a dearly loved husband, father, "PePaw" and friend.
We want to thanks the staff at Canyon Creek Memory Care and Gentle Transitions Hospice for the loving care they provided Joe during his final weeks, and our heartfelt and unconditional love for Juanita Snow with Visiting Angels who walked this road with us for many months and provided care, companionship and compassion to our family. She will always be part of it.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: J.A.L.L. Ministry, Hope Pregnancy, or a charity of choice.
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