She was born in Poplarville, Mississippi, to the late Clarence H. Odom and Loraine Davis Odom. Mrs. Van Tassel was an Army wife and traveled the globe with her late husband, Laverne Ray Van Tassel. She enjoyed her family, traveling, and was a curtain connoisseur. Mrs. Van Tassel was a nurturing, caring and feisty lady, and was a great depression survivor. She was also well known for her cooking of dorito casserole and goulash, as well as her endless supply of cookies and milk, along with zebra cakes.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by two sons, Fredrick Ray Van Tassel and Douglas Carroll Van Tassel, and four siblings, James Orvel, Vernon A. Odom, Elizabeth Luvenia and Frances Quilene.
Mrs. Van Tassel is survived by her four grandchildren, Danny (Ginger), Mike (Mindy), Josh and Teresa; three great grandchildren, Anna, Erica and Evan Van Tassel; and four siblings, Pearl M. Volte, Clarence Hilbern, Joyce Annette and Donald Lavelle.
Visitation will be at Hermitage Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and Wednesday, June 3, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
The Celebration of Life will be conducted in the Hermitage Funeral Home chapel on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 2:00 pm with Pastor Tony G. Rogers-Sirten.
Interment will follow at Hermitage Memorial Gardens.
