Obituary from Holman Funeral Home of Ozark – Ozark, Alabama
Mr. Carl D. Gassett, a former resident of Ozark, passed away Monday, November 10, 2025. He was 85 years old. Funeral services for Mr. Gassett will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, November 14, 2025, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Johnny Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends Friday at the funeral home from 10:00 A.M. until service time.
Mr. Gassett was born on January 26, 1940, in Skipperville, Alabama, to Grady Gassett and El Berta Dykes Gassett. He was the seventh of eight children and the youngest boy in the family. Affectionately known as “DEE-witt” or “Dee” by his siblings, Carl grew up surrounded by a large extended family in rural Dale County. He often recalled with humor and fondness what it meant to be “poor folks.” One treasured family photograph shows a young Dee, about eight years old, standing proudly barefoot among his brothers and sisters gathered around their mother.
Carl graduated from Carroll High School in 1958. After working several odd jobs, and a short stint in the army national guard, he attended Norman College in Norman Park, Georgia, where he met and married Ruth Sloan Crosby. They had one daughter, Teresa Gassett (Rhyne). Carl later completed his degree at Troy University and began a long and dedicated career in public-school music education in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. At that time, he chose to go by “Carl,” believing it carried the professional respect he sought as a teacher and musician.
A musician by both talent and calling, Mr. Gassett taught public school music for more than 20 years and served as minister of music in churches across DeFuniak Springs and Ozark, Alabama, for over four decades. In addition to his teaching and church work, he played guitar, taught himself the fiddle, worked as an assistant manager at Walmart, and tuned pianos as a skilled technician before retiring.
Carl recognized and nurtured a musical gift in his daughter, Teresa, ensuring she took piano lessons and encouraging her love of music. She fondly remembers singing with her father and Aunt Margaret at Southside Baptist Church in Ozark. Following in his footsteps, Teresa became a public-school music educator herself. Later in life, Carl welcomed a son, Stephen Carl Gassett, who served as a percussionist in the U.S. Army Band. Stephen and his wife, Mia, live in Manhattan, Kansas, with their two sons.
Beyond music, Carl had a deep affection for animals—especially cats, dogs, and horses—and a love for the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, teaching his daughter the art of catching fish with a simple cane pole, and he delighted in taking his nieces and nephews swimming at local ‘watering spots’ during family visits. He would often stop along the road to visit friends and family, pet a horse, or rescue a stray animal. He also played on several church softball teams and was an avid Atlanta Braves fan. One of his favorite memories was being in the stands when Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run in 1974.
He was preceded in death by his mother, El Berta Gassett; siblings Laura Lou Gassett, Mavis Gassett Phillips, Earl Gassett, Margaret Gassett Scales, Wayne Gassett, and Lamar Gassett.
He is survived by his daughter, Teresa Gassett Rhyne (Jimmy); his son, Stephen Carl Gassett (Mia); his brother, Ed Gassett (Rebecca); grandsons, Jamie and Joshua; his lifelong friend, Annette LeMacks; and several nieces and nephews.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HolmanFuneralHome.com
