Sarah Catherine "Cassie" French

Sarah Catherine “Cassie” Beavers French, age 82 of Princeton, WV, formerly of North Tazewell, VA departed this life on Sunday, June 16, 2013 at Princeton Community Hospital in Princeton, WV surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 1, 1930 in the Dry Fork community of Tazewell County, VA and was a daughter of the late Ross Jackson Beavers and Sallie McGuire Beavers. She was a Graduate of Tazewell High School and had attended Southwest Virginia Community College, where she studied music and art. Mrs. French taught piano and organ lessons for over fifty years. She was a member of and the organist for the Stras Memorial Episcopal Church in Tazewell, VA for the last thirty-four years. For many years she was an active member of the Tazewell County Theatre Group and director of the children’s plays. Cassie was a member of the Bluefield Community Concerts Association, past president and member of the Tazewell Music Club, directed many choirs and youth groups. She enjoyed gardening and sharing the homegrown vegetables with everyone. Mrs. French was a wonderful mother who loved and was dedicated to God and supporting her eight children, thirteen grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren in their many activities. She will always be loved and remembered for her beautiful smile, her gift of music that she shared with everyone and her dedication to her family, which was known as Tazewell’s singing and musical Von-French family, taken from the “Sound of Music’s” Von-Trapp family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Zed “Sherrill” French, Jr.; one son, Richard Byron French; one grandson, Adam Litz French; one sister, Betty Jane Beavers; one brother, George Richard Beavers. She is survived by four sons, Zed “Zeddie” Sherrill French, III and wife, Kathy of Stanardsville, VA, Lindsey Ross French of North Tazewell, VA, Mark Wheeler French and wife, Susan of Abingdon, VA, and David Carey French of Princeton, WV; three daughters, Sarah Lynne French and Diana Catherine Bragg and husband, J.J. both of Princeton, WV, and Sallie Faye Bowen and husband, Rees Bowen, VII of Maiden Spring, VA; daughter-in-law, Jeanie French of Taey’s Valley, WV; twelve grandchildren, Zed “Zee” Sherrill French, IV and wife, Andrea of The Woodlands, TX, Jessica Sublett Armistead and husband, Justin of Charlottesville, VA, Richard “Richie” Byron French, Jr. and wife, Mandy of Tazewell, VA, Amy Elizabeth Bower and husband, Erik and William “Will” Joseph French and wife, Melissa both of Taey’s Valley, WV, Marcus Hunter French of Abingdon, VA, Matthew Caemron Bragg and wife, Stephanie of Narrows, VA, Catherine “Katie” Elizabeth Painter and husband, Jared and Ryan Carey French both of Princeton, WV, Jeseca Lynne Bragg and fiancé, Zack Sowder of Bluefield, WV, Kimberli Ann Bragg of Lexington, KY, and Rees Tate Bowen, VIII of Maiden Spring, VA; twelve great-grandchildren, Landry and Presley French, Charlize “Charlee” and Gabrielle “Gabi” French, Faith Julieann and Luke Adam Bower, Christian, Hunter and Noah French, Erin Nicole Bragg, Alayna Catherine and Jackson Thomas Painter; one sister, Margaret Reed of Bridgewater, VA; four brothers, Ross Jackson Beavers, Jr. and wife, Genevieve of Louisville, TN, Harman Beavers and wife, Effie of Olin, NC, Litz Beavers and wife, Elizabeth of Washington DC, and A.R. Beavers and wife, Shirley of Bishop, VA; sister-in-law, Mary Faye Barnett of Gatlinburg, TN; several nieces and nephews, other family members and friends also survive. Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah “Cassie” French will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013 at the Hurst – Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, VA with Father Russ Hatfield and the Rev. Emily Edmonson officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA. Pallbearers will be Rees T. Bowen, VIII, Ryan French, Marcus French, Richie French, Will French, Matthew Bragg, Zee French, Jared Painter, Zack Sowder, and Erik Bower. The family will receive friends at the funeral home after 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home of Tazewell, VA will be serving the family of Mrs. French and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.

Sarah Catherine "Cassie" French

July 1, 1930 - June 16, 2013