Marcella Caskey

(Jan. 14, 1928 - May 21, 2018)

Marcella Ann Frank Caskey “Sally” of Powell passed away peacefully on May 21, 2018, at the age of 90.

She was born Jan. 14, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, to Francis Martin Frank and Katherine Elizabeth Frank, then moved to a farm outside Big Springs, Nebraska.

Sally struck a fine balance between working hard and playing hard, starting with the former by doing chores with her nine brothers and sisters. She milked cows, hoed beets, and later when the war started, worked the fields with her sisters when her brothers joined up. She then became a telephone operator and a professional seamstress.

On Sept. 23, 1947, she married her favorite dance partner and love of her life, Donald Earl Caskey, in Julesburg, Colorado. They moved to Powell, where she then worked as a meat wrapper at the old Sawyers Grocery store before becoming a secretary for multiple local businesses.

Sally and Don loved to camp and boat. They took their kids, grandkids and families as part of the deal every holiday weekend in the summers! She was the family historian and genealogist, and she ramrodded many a family reunion. She volunteered at the nursing home, at the church, and played a mean hand of bridge.

Above all these things, Sally was the matriarch of the Caskey family. To say she will be missed beyond measure is an understatement. Family and friends returned to her home continually to be pampered, eat, laugh, and simply to have a good time. She and Don danced a million miles to the big band sounds and her face lit up when any of those songs played. She was a light for her family and we could not love or miss her more.

She is survived by her son Michael Caskey (Desiree); daughter Patricia Startin; sister Irene Lanckriet; grandchildren Nisa Caskey (John Horrell), Toby Startin (Kristin), Tana Kornachuk (Phil), Kasey Startin, and great-grandchildren Lily, Katadin, Breckyn, Shanko, and Taigan Kornachuk and Norah and Finn Startin, as well as a large extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings John Frank, Ignatius Frank, Frankie Frank, Mary Herman, Helen Klug, Margaret Fraker, Barb Macht, Betty Degenhart and daughter-in-law Jill Caskey.

A Rosary service will be held at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Powell on Friday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church on Saturday, May 26 at 2 p.m. followed by interment at Crown Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org.