Joyce Hefner Cassels

Funeral services for Joyce Hefner Cassels will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at Riser Funeral Home in Columbia, LA with Bro. Kent Nugent officiating and interment following at Rosefield Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 2, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Riser Funeral Home.

Mrs. Joyce Laverne Hefner Cassels, age 76, of Duty Ferry, Louisiana, was born January 17, 1947, in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. She went to meet her savior on April 30, 2023, surrounded by her family at her home.

In 1964, Joyce met the love of her life Harry Scott Cassels Sr. while working at an A&W Root beer stand in West Monroe, Louisiana. It was love at first sight and the two were married within two weeks. Joyce moved to Duty Ferry, Louisiana, with Harry where she went on to raise their three children.

Joyce was a seamstress, quilter, and flower gardener. She enjoyed photography and painting. Joyce was a caring momma and mammaw. Joyce is fondly remembered as always working on some type of project. She loved to be in her yard working in her flower beds and cultivating new types of daylilies.

Her granddaughters vividly remember listening to her play records and dance around the kitchen with them. Spending time in the kitchen and learning her heartfelt recipes is another memory everyone will cherish. Joyce’s grandsons remember her always enlisting their help to build her new flower beds in the yard and teaching them the value of a job well done. One grandson fondly recalled the time she decided to initiate a drag race and showed that friendly competition is always a good thing.

Joyce’s great grandchildren remember her making each of them their own quilt and letting them choose the fabric so that it was unique and special to them. She enjoyed traveling to see new destinations around the country with her family. One of her favorite destinations was the Southwest Region of the United States. Joyce was a member of Sandy Bayou Baptist Church, where she was always furthering her knowledge of the Lord. She retired from the United States Postal Service as a rural carrier.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents: John Ira Seal Hefner and Julia Francis Jumper Hefner; son Harry Scott Cassels Jr.; siblings: Jean Branch and husband Bobby, Henry Hefner, Francis Hefner, Junior Hefner, Sammy Hefner, and Larry Joe Hefner.

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years Harry Scott Cassels Sr.; her daughters: Robin Hillestad and husband Darrin, and Anna Weatherford and husband Bobby; grandchildren: Trinity Scott Hillestad and wife Katie, James Cook, Jessica Darden, Tori Hillestad, Brooke Phillips and husband Drew, Trey Hillestad and fiancé Zoe Ainsworth, and honorary granddaughter Juen Kim; great-grandchildren: Evan Hillestad, Nate Cook, Asher Darden, Jase Hillestad, Tristan Darden, Bentley Phillips, Cora Cook, Henry Cook, Reagan Darden, Ava Phillips, and John Ross Cook. She is also survived by her siblings Terry Lynn Hefner and wife Theresa, and sister, Teresa Carolyn Hefner Oliveaux, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Glen Hefner, Marcus Kenworthy, Randy Branch, David Branch, Van Patterson, Dillon Hefner, Matthew Hefner, and Troy Hefner. Honorary Pallbearers will be Danny Nugent, Benny Griffin, Pete Lively, Eugene Kenworthy, and Russ Hefner.