Hazel Casto Parsons

On May 21, 1935, Hazel Marie Casto was born at home on the family farm at Willow Grove/Millwood, WV. This land would eventually become the site of Kaiser Aluminum – where she would work for 39 years. Dr. Roy Kessel, her cousin, and nephew of her Grandmother Mary Myrtle Kessel Casto, delivered her and was paid a crate of oranges and a $10 bill.

She was the daughter of Raymond R. and Grace Hartley Casto who preceded her in death along with her brother Lewis R. “Buzz” Casto.

Hazel was a 1953 graduate of Ravenswood High School and a graduate of Marshall University. Through the years, she stayed close to her Ravenswood High classmates. A few weeks ago, she was named a “Super Fan” by Ripley High School, the town in which she lived and supported for 68 years.

She married Junior Wayne Parsons of Ripley in 1955 and they were married for 52 years before his passing. Their retirement life included spending winters in Florida and traveling in their RV across the country which Hazel loved so very much.

Hazel is survived by her children Cindi Parsons Dunn of Harpers Ferry, WV and Alex Parsons (Debbie) of Kenna, WV. She loved her children dearly but her “Golden Child,” as she called him, was grandson Nicholas (Angela) Boyles of Buckhannon who gave her “Golden Great Granddaughters” Gracie and Hannah Boyles. She is also survived by step grandson Tyler Jeffries and his family of Pinch, WV and her special niece Tammy Casto (Tim) Harpold and their children and grandchildren of Ripley, WV. To list all the family and friends who are left to miss her would take more space than we have. She never met a stranger and would help anyone with anything at any time.

In 1956, she began her career at Kaiser Aluminum and continued with Century Aluminum, which was on the land of her family’s dairy farm. She always said she never left home to go to work and she never left work to go home.

In 1994, a cancer diagnosis giving her six months to live took her away from the job she loved so much. She fought that battle the way she lived her life, with faith, strength, grace, and positivity. Obviously, God wasn’t ready for her to come to heaven, as we all benefited from the 29 years of love and kindness she brought us after being given only six months.

She began what could best be called a life of service and kindness. She could be spotted in her brightly colored clothing visiting people, delivering her famous blackberry cobbler and other delicious delights, supporting Epworth church or dealing with situations where people needed her connections, experience, and positive attitude to get the job done. Hazel was always “taking care of business.”

Hazel donated her body to WVU Human Registry. A visitation will be held at Epworth UM Church in Ripley on May 19th from 5 – 9 pm. May 20 at 1 pm, at Epworth, we will have a Celebration of Her Life, followed by light refreshments featuring her famous blackberry cobbler and ice cream.

Hazel was very involved with the Andrew Callers of Epworth UM Church, a group that provides bereavement support to church families. In lieu of flowers, Hazel had requested that donations be made to Andrew Callers – Epworth UM Church, 299 N. Church Street, Ripley, WV 25271. She would also like for people attending to wear casual brightly colored clothing and no suits please for the gentleman.

Hazel left her earthly home on May first with her family by her side. She touched the lives of everyone she met. If you knew Hazel Parsons, you knew an angel on earth. Now in heaven, we feel sure she has her brightly colored wings.