Patricia Kassel

SICILY ISLAND, La. -- Funeral for Patricia "Patty" Gaye Cox Kassel, 79, of Sicily Island will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Young's Funeral Home in Ferriday, Louisiana, with Pastor Schulingkamp officiating. Interment will follow at Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island under the direction of Young's Funeral Home.

Patty was born Jan. 14, 1943, in Denver and passed away at her home in Sicily Island. Patty was a passionate gardener and loved flowers. She was an animal lover, especially her horses and dogs. She was very passionate about the Lord and served at First Lutheran Church in Natchez, Mississippi, for 58 years. Patty was full of life and loved everyone she met. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Loretta Kunze and Harley Cox.

Patty is survived by her husband of 58 years, Willard Kassel of Sicily Island; sisters-in-law, Cora Pennington of Vidalia, Louisiana, and Charlotte (Melvin) Rhodes of Jackson; four nieces, Debbie Temple of Vidalia; Dawn Smith of Monroe, Louisiana; Darla (Jackie) Johnston of Vidalia; and Christy Parrish of Jackson; three nephews, Scott (Christine) Rhodes of Jackson, Todd (Sandy) Rhodes of Oak Ridge and Wade Rhodes (Kathy) of Jackson; her current caregivers, for more than 15 years, Angie Farmer and George Ann Farmer, who are more like family, and her previous caregivers, Jane Martin and Ruth Rush. Patty also leaves behind a host of great- and great-great-nieces and -nephews, cousins, family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Temple, Chris Temple Jr., Trey Batey, Nathan Farmer, Tyler Ensminger, Nick Johnston and Wade Rhodes.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jerry Hinton, Barry Jenkins, Chris Temple and Jackie Johnston.

The family will receive friends from 10 to the service time at 11 a.m. Saturday at Young's Funeral Home.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

To leave an online condolence for the family visit www.youngsfh.com.