November 22, 2015, Mr. and Mrs. James R. Cashell Sr. will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary together at the Lord’s Table. Jim joined Barbara in Heaven on Wednesday, August 26th 2015, surrounded by his family.
Born September 5, 1929, Jim (Pa) was the oldest son of Ray and Alice Cashell, Jim was born in Anaconda but moved to Butte at six months and remained here. He attended St. Patrick’s elementary, St. John’s elementary, and graduated from Butte High School in 1947. From the age of five and throughout high school he was a boxer. His advice to all of his children and grandchildren was: “Don’t be an idiot, if it looks like someone is going to hit you, hit them first”.
In 1952 at a dance at Allensdale, Jim met Barbara McCarthy. For the next 57 years they were inseparable. They built a life raising a family, taking care of others and traveling. Together they traveled all over the United States, visited Mexico and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Ireland.
A teamster at heart Jim worked several different places. He worked for 7-Up Coca Cola bottling, he drove ambulance and taxi, worked on the recovery at Hebgen Lake following the 1959 earthquake, worked several years in the meat packing industry, both in sales and partners in Cashell/Griffith distributing Sigman Meats. He also worked for Schumacher and Biastoch Meats. He ended his work years as a Teamster with Garrett/ANR Freight Company. After his retirement, he would tell anyone he spoke with: “God Bless Jimmy Hoffa wherever he is!” In his retirement he became a civil process server having one of the first civil processing certificates in Montana. Jim was also a longtime member of the BPOE and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Jim’s greatest accomplishments in life were all about his children. He loved and was proud of each of them and all they have accomplished. He told us recently: “I’ve had a good life, I have a few dollars in the bank, I have a home, and I have good kids and grandkids.” Jim spent his life taking care of and providing for the people in his life. Job well done Dad!
Jim was preceded in death by his wife: Barbara, parents Alice and Ray Cashell, his brother Tom and sister-in-law Pat Cashell, parents-in-law Mary and John McCarthy, brother-in-law John McCarthy.
He is survived by his children: Jim (Diane) Cashell, Colleen (Joe) Berger, Bill (Sarah) Cashell, Cathy Cashell-McPherson (Dave), Marilou (Ed) Hart. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law Pat and VerNae McCarthy. Grandchildren Sean (Brenda) Cashell, Matt (Heather) Cashell, Kelly (Kevin) Greiner, Jenni (Alex) Schneider, Chris (Corisa) Berger, Tim (Kennda) Berger, Brian (Kerrie) Berger, Seif (Rachel Yang) Chirchi, Dunya Chirchi, Jake McPherson, Megan McPherson, Kaitlyn Hart, and Kyle Hart. Great grandchildren: Sara, Vincent, James, Marcus, Emma, Kiana, Braden, Hayden, Cole, Cashton, Jared, Gabby, Ashlyn, Jaeden, Kelton, Tayvin, Trevin, Pike, and Rye. Nephews and their families: Tom (Peggy) Cashell, Chuck (Terry) Cashell, Pat Cashell, Mike (Kathy) Cashell, Dave (Lori) Cashell, Rob (Heather) (Robinhood) Cashell, and niece Tami Joy (Greg) Choquette. He is also survived by numerous cousins including John Cashell, Jeanine Grater and Harriett Gerry.
A special thanks to Jack (Nort) McCormack, Diana and Jessie Bestgen, and Joann McCarthy for your friendship to Dad, he loved you all. And to those special angels from Senior Solutions, Sheena, Peg, Courtney, Lorraine, Val, Ariel, Cat, Natalie, Sarah and Mescha and anyone we may have missed, we can’t express how much we appreciate the care, comfort and love you showed us and our father. Thank you Frontier hospice, Jackie, Gwen, Sue, Fran and Ivan for your care and support.
Family will receive friends and family on Monday August 31, 2015, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Dolan’s Mortuary. Vigil services will be at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, September 1, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy Foundation, 2260 Sierra Rd East, Helena, MT 59602, Butte Food Bank, Butte Central Catholic Education Fund or a charity of your choice.
“Drive careful Dad. Call when you get there!”
