L. Pearl Casady

L. Pearl (Ray) Casady

Pearl (Ray) Casady was born June 6, 1917 west of Graysville in Putnam County Missouri. She was the sixth of seven children born to Julia Frances (Packard) and Richard Emanuel Ray. Pearl passed away June 27, 2009 at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, Missouri at the age of 92 years and 21 days.

Pearl attended the Haynes grade school and the Martinstown High School thru grade 10. She walked two to four miles to school in all kinds of weather. The path to school was on a dirt road, across a creek and through a pasture. Pearl was a petite child and often her brothers would carry her to school.

Pearl was united in marriage to Herbert H. Casady on August 10, 1940. Five children were born to this union; Hadley Howard, Mary Kay, Roger Herbert, Steven David, and Debra Joan. Pearl was a homemaker and mother. She had children in school continuously for 26 years. For a number of years, Pearl served as the janitor at the Graysville School and was also a president and member of the Graysville School PTA.

Pearl attended the Martinstown Church of Christ her entire life and was a member of the church over 75 years. As Pearl grew older, she especially loved to watch the antics of the young children in the congregation. As girls, Pearl and her sister Thelma would walk five miles to and from church every Sunday.

Pearl had a wonderful sense of humor and thought children should be allowed to express their own likes and dislikes. Her children did not have to eat anything they did not like. If they could not eat everything on their plate, so be it. One illustration of Pearl’s delightful sense of humor happened when she and her young daughter were setting the table for the noon meal. While waiting on Herbert and Steve to come in from the field, Pearl and Debbi played a game of tag around the dining room table. Pearl, with a large dinner plate in hand, tagged Debbi. She then ran around the table, flew through the screen door and across the porch to circle the pear tree in the yard - almost knocking down a visiting traveling insurance salesman. The salesman looked shocked, but when Pearl burst into laughter, so did he.

Pearl is survived by two daughters, Mary Kay Veach and Debbi Casady, nine grandchildren: John Casady, Rokita Casady Harris, Rocky Veach, Ron Veach, Rick Veach, Brian Veach, Kevin Casady, Grant Casady, and Brandon Casady, 19 great-grandchildren: Caleb & Calee Casady; Rachel, Jordan, Amanda & Molli Veach; Natasha Harris Hamilton and Ron Hadley, Dustin & Austin Harris; Morgan, Cheyenne, Bryndan, Ysabella & Griffon Veach; Kayn & Dime Veach; Talisha & Courtney Veach. Step-grandchildren: Chris, Ashlea, Justin & Jason Offutt. One great-great-grandson: Isaac Hamilton and one step-great-great-grandson: David Offutt.

She is also survived by a cousin, Gerald Packard, who was raised in the Ray home. Also, two sisters-in-law, Octa Ray and Velma Casady; other cousins and nieces and nephews.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Herbert; three sons, Hadley, Roger and Steven; two sisters, Thelma Casady and Velma Partin; four brothers, Edwin Ray, Voyd Ray, Cecil Ray, Richard Ray and two half-brothers, Walter Ray and Denis Ray.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday evening, July 1, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, Missouri with Brother Dan Todd of the Kirksville Central Church of Christ officiating. Musical selections will be sung by Paul & Melanie Wagner and Eric & Christina Davis. Burial will be in the Lone Pine Cemetery, Martinstown, Missouri. Casket bearers are her grandsons: John Casady, Rocky Veach, Ron Veach, Rick Veach, Brian Veach and Brandon Casady. Memorials may be made to the Martinstown Church of Christ or the Lone Pine Cemetery.