Keith George Robert Cassell of Smith Falls, Ont. passed away on Feb. 22, 2026 at the Smiths Falls Hospital at the age of 83. 

Beloved husband of Joan (Carroll) Cassell of 62 years. Father of Christopher (Debbie), Kevin (Marcy), Brian (Stephanie) and Scott (Cindy). Much loved poppa of Nicole (Nick), Macy (Drew), Kaitlin, Emily, Brett, Reba, Mason (Sydney), Abigail (Rykr) and Wade, Bailey, Danielle, Emma, Tyler, Nathan, Kurtis, Bronwyn and Samuel. Adored great poppa of Weston, Luke, Oakleigh, Thomas, Noah, Kaden, Nixon, Hudson and Aurora.

Predeceased by his parents James and Angelina (nee McRitchie) Cassell, his brother Ronald (late Joan Gallipeau) and sister Elaine Perry.

He will be greatly missed by many brothers and sisters in law, cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbours.

Born and raised in Smiths Falls, Keith was an entrepreneur and founder of J&K Auto Parts, J&K Container Services, Cassell Ford, Glenview Iron and Metal and Six C’s Family Holdings. These ventures created opportunities for his family to be partners in business.

Unsurprisingly, Keith was also a trained auctioneer!

Keith liked to buy and sell, make deals, check out job sites and loved watching heavy equipment work. Creating and searching for opportunities for his sons to learn his ways brought many memories for the family. Watching them make deals, price jobs, load trucks and trailers by grapple and crane to move recycling products brought him so much pride. This has travelled down the generations to some of the grandchildren who have found themselves careers in heavy equipment operating and scrap recycling.

Keith also had a passion for harness racing. He bought his first horse in 1969, a Standardbred racehorse named Andalusia. The following years, Keith owned, trained and drove many horses, travelling to different racetracks around Ontario. When his sons were old enough, they all too dipped their toes in the Standardbred industry -- Chris and Scott in ownership and Kevin and Brian in training and driving. While operating a successful recycling business, Keith's racehorses also flourished. The family would often travel to race their horses in Ontario and Quebec. Again, some grandchildren have found careers within the horse industry. In his older age, he took a back seat to the hard duties of racing. He continued to own racehorses seeing many winners at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Woodbine and Mohawk Racetracks and Western Fair Raceway. He loved to see up-and-comers trying to make a go at racing and would often give them a chance to train or drive for him. Some of his favourite horses were the ‘Cadillac horse’ Kermit Royal, ‘the crazy guy’ Logans Hero, ‘the standout’ Caustic Yankee and ‘the track record mare’ Best Honey Hanover.

Best Honey Hanover, trained by Keith Cassell's granddaughter, Macy Cassell-Smyth, pictured winning at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 20, 2023, setting the 1:51.3 track record for aged pacing mares.

Keith will be remembered as a tenacious, driven individual. Moments with him were often a lesson, usually hard learnt but lasting. Quiet moments were often found on the front porch or watching the boats on the river. He’s already greatly missed by his dog Buddy, but his best doggie Hank was waiting for him in Heaven.

Family and friends may pay their respects at the Blair & Son Funeral Home, located at 112 Beckwith St. N. in Smiths Falls, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Francis de Sales Church, located at 17 Elmsley St. N. in Smiths Falls, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at Hanley Hall. Interment will take place at St. Francis de Sales Cemetery at a later date in the summer. 

In memory of Keith, donations to Diabetes Canada or the Gerry Lowe Foundation would be appreciated by the family.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Keith Cassell.