David B. "Dave" Hassell, son of Benjamin "Ben" (1919-2004) and Erna Louise (McKenzie) Hassell, was born 22 November 1948 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. He graduated from Okemos High School in 1967 and served in the US Navy from 27 December 1967 until honorable discharge 26 October 1971. Dave died of cancer 26 January 1985 and was interred East Lawn Memory Garden, Okemos, Ingham County.
Dave's father, Ben, was born in Bridgetown, Barbados, British West Indies and was a well known interior decorator in the Lansing area. Ben was also interred East Lawn Memory Garden, Okemos. Erna, Dave's mother, taught art in the Okemos Public School system.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 28 January 1985
HASSELL, DAVID B.
6041 GREEN RD.
HASLETT
Age 36, died Jan. 26, 1985 after an extended illness. Born Nov. 22, 1948 in Lansing, Mr. Hassell was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Lansing and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Surviving are his wife, Elleen; father and mother, Benjamin & Erna Hassell of Okemos, 2 sisters, Erna Carolyn Hassell of Stanford, CT and Patricia Ehman of East Lansing; grandmother Erna McKenzie of Lansing. Funeral services for Mr. Hassell will be Tues. 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 218 W. Ottawa, Lansing. Interment will be in East Lawn Memory Gardens.
Patricia Hassell (Ehman) (1973)
Our mother, Erna Hassell, now resides in Houston, TX. She had her 101th birthday in December and is doing very well. She lives with her granddaughter, Susan and her family(Tricia's youngest daughter).
Tom Yunck (1967)
Wow, that's great to hear! Mrs. Hassell was my 6th grade art teacher and her son David sat at my table – with Jack Nimphie and Larry Wheeler. Our table was right up by Mrs. Hassell's desk. On Oct 13, 1960, we had a transistor radio going quietly with the 7th game of the world series between the Yankees and Pirates. Mrs. Hassell kept hearing it and making us turn it off. The lead kept going back and forth, back and forth. Somehow we got it going again in time to hear Bill Mazeroski hit his legendary walkoff homer (we didn't have that term then) to give it to the Pirates, 10-9. It's still the only walkoff homer in a WS 7th game. We burst into a loud cheer. Mrs. Hassell took the radio. I think it was Larry's.
Mary Fox (White) (1967)
Erna,
Thank you for posting this memorial for Dave. Ingrid made a wonderful memorial chair for all of our deceased classmates. Congrats to your mom, I remember her well. Do you remember...we were neighbors?
Mary Fox White