Joan Cassels

Joan Cassels, whose kindness, generosity, love of family and enthusiasm for life endeared her to so many, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2025, in the presence of her children.

Born Margaret Joan Ouzts on Oct. 3, 1934, her family pronounced her name as Jo-ann. She was married to the love of her life, Ralph Willard Cassels, for 60 years, until he died in 2012 with her at his side. They enjoyed their newlywed years in Tallahassee and reared three children there, later retiring to their farm in Grady County.

Joan loved to read, sing, garden, travel, paint, write, and spend time with her family and friends. Ever an optimist, she was a cheerleader for life, love and beauty. In her professional life, she was an esteemed executive assistant to senior hospital administrators at Tallahassee Memorial and at Grady General, and she held other executive positions throughout her adult life, including working for the State of Florida. She was a member of the Cairo Pilot Club.

Joan and Ralph were members of Cairo First United Methodist Church for more than 20 years, after transferring from John Wesley UMC and Gray Memorial UMC in Tallahassee. Joan sang soprano in the church choirs, sang with the Tallahassee Community Chorus, and happily sang along with her records at home.

Joan was born in Cairo to Eddie Howell Ouzts Sr. and Cecil Slaton Ouzts, who reared six children in Florida and in Georgia. In heaven, she will joyfully reunite with them and with her brothers and sisters who preceded her in death: Eddie Howell Ouzts Jr. (Bert), John Ellis Ouzts (Pat), Wynette Ouzts Holmes (Ray), and Janice Ouzts Schreffler (Bob). Their youngest sister is Emily Ouzts Rowan (Jay), who lives near her daughter in Patterson, near Waycross.

Joan’s beloved sisters-in-law, Agnes Cassels Hillis and Evelyn Cassels Shaw also preceded her in death, as did their husbands, Wycliffe Hillis and Keith Shaw.

Along with Emily, Joan’s survivors are her daughters Laura Cassels (Tim) and Carol Cassels Otte (David) and her son, Scott Cassels (Brenda); her grandchildren Jason Cassels (Heather), Aislinn Cassels-Hyde, Keri Cassels Hartsell (Nathan), Casey May Connell (Zane) and Abby May Irion (Daniel); 10 great-grandchildren: Alex Cassels, Sean Cassels-Hyde, Austin, Cole, Brady and Kate Connell, Reagan and Jemma Hartsell, Jack Irion and soon-to-be-born Emma Jane Irion; and by numerous cherished nieces, nephews and cousins from her birth family and Ralph’s. She also is survived by her lifelong friend Frances Hooks Roberts (John).

In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to these local charities or to one of your choosing, T and S Foundation of Grady County (www.tandsfoundation.com) or Archbold Foundation (www.archbold.org), in honor of Joan Cassels.

Funeral services for Joan are set for Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, at 10 a.m., at Cairo First Methodist Church. Family and friends visiting from out of town may coordinate on plans with Laura at (229) 377-3544.