Chiquita (Chita) Cassibry

Chiquita Cassibry (Chita) passed away on August 3, 2011 in Spanish Fort, Alabama, where she was a resident of Westminster Village, a retirement community. Chita was born in Snyder, Texas on December 3, 1925. While working in Gulfport, Mississippi she met her husband, Hugh W. Cassibry when he was there on leave from the U.S. Navy. They were later married on Oct. 31, 1945 in the Panama Canal Zone, where they continued to live for 28 years. Both she and her husband were employed in the Comptroller's Office of the Panama Canal Company. Chita was appointed to serve on the Women's Advisory Committee to the Governor. Upon her husband's retirement they returned to the U.S. to live in Ocean Springs, MS. Chita worked at the Gulf Islands National Seashore and later was employed by the Navy in Pascagoula, MS as a contracts specialist until her retirement in 1980. She also served as the Federal Women's Program Coordinator there. Chita had many interests. Some of her favorite activities were fishing, gardening, traveling, attending church services, and bird-watching with her Audubon friends. She truly enjoyed life. Chita was preceded in death by her husband Hugh and son Wilton Cassibry, and by her father and mother, Horace and Maggie Cotten. She is survived by her two daughters, Peggy Vix (Kerry), of Atascadero, CA and Linda Mack (Joseph) of Chantilly, VA, by her son Robert Cassibry (Suzanne) of Daphne, AL, seven grandchildren, other relatives, and many friends. She will be dearly missed. A Celebration of Life Service for Chita will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, August 13 at the Spanish Fort United Methodist Church, 6690 Spanish Fort Blvd. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com