Hilda Hope McCauley Cason

Hilda Hope McCauley Cason died Monday, August 24, 2015 at the age of 87. Hope, as she was known, was the 12th and youngest child of Minnie Wright Thurston and Ernest Linwood McCauley. She was born June 18, 1928 at Martha Jefferson Hospital, and remained a lifelong resident of Charlottesville and Albemarle County until she spent the last 4 years of her life in a small adult care home in Louisa. Hope’s mother died when she was 3 years old and she grew up very close to her Daddy and siblings. She lived near Proffit and attended school in Earlysville before moving to Crozet to live with her brother, Vivian, and family. She and her father eventually moved to Charlottesville and lived with her sister, Irene, and family, while she attended Lane High School. Hope met her husband, Lee H. Cason, while she was working at Timberlake’s and later worked for the phone company. Hope and Lee were married at Hinton Avenue Methodist Church on July 3, 1947. Their daughter, Carolyn Dawn, was born in 1954, and a second daughter, Dixie Lynn, was born in 1957. Their infant son, Lee H. Cason Jr., died in 1958. Hope’s husband Lee died Jan. 9, 1982. Hope is survived by her daughter, Carolyn, and her husband William Alfred Talley Jr., their daughter Cason Hope, and Alfred’s children Will and Laura and their families. She is also survived by her daughter, Dixie, and her husband Lawrence D. Peterson Jr., and their children Hunter Lee and Emily Dawn, and Emily’s children Tyler and Cierra. Hope was known as Nana to her grandchildren. In addition to her parents, husband, and son, Hope was predeceased by all of her siblings: Vivian McCauley (Virginia), Irene Reed (Claude), Dora Garrison (Buster), Elmore McCauley (Ella), Waverly McCauley (Pate), Phyllis Powell (Thomas), Adgile McCauley (Willard), Muriel Wood (James), Daniel McCauley (Sarah), Jean Rea, and Rudolph McCauley. Her paternal grandparents were Sallie Baker Crenshaw and George Washington McCauley. Her maternal grandparents were Dora Dean Wood and Elmore Pendleton Thurston. She is survived by McCauley nieces and nephews: Linwood, Irving, Joel, and Richard McCauley, Shirley Cook, Claude Reed, Jr., Jean Cary, and Delores Morris. When Hope married Lee she became part of the Cason clan. She was predeceased by Lee’s parents, Mary Pittman and Leonard Cason, and Lee’s brothers, Charles and Ralph Cason and brother-in-law Ralph Roberts. She is survived by Leonard Ezra, Jr. (Isabel), Charles’ widow, Frances, Bill (Carolyn), Jack (Barbara), and George (Hazel) Cason and Nancy Cason Roberts, as well as numerous Cason nieces and nephews. Betty Lee Roberts is a special niece that Hope cared for as a young child. Hope was a loving daughter, sister, mother and grandmother. She proudly served as president of the Robert E Lee Elementary School PTA and Rock Hill Academy Booster’s Club. Donations can be made to the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad at 828 McIntire Road Charlottesville VA 22902. Family will receive friends at Teague Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5-7 pm and a graveside service will be held at Monticello Memorial Gardens on Thursday at 12:00 pm.