Anthony "Tony" Casarella, 86, of Dawsonville, died Feb. 1, 2009.

A native of New York, New York, he had been living in Dawson County since 1986.

Mr. Casarella was a long distance moving driver with Allied Van Lines and retired after 40 years on the road with senior safe driving status.

After his retirement, he continued to drive a truck, which carried an exhibit of the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, called the "Move to Freedom."

After the closing of the exhibit, which coincided with the reopening of the Statue of Liberty on July 4, 1986, he settled in Dawson County.

He was a member of Juno Baptist Church, the Dawson County Camp of Gideon's International and was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Lucia Casarella; grandson, Timothy Casarella; six sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include his wife, Pamela Stowers Casarella of Dawsonville; children, Joe and Jean Casarella of New York, N.Y., Tony and Liz Casarella of Ashford, Conn., Lynn and Warren Cutts of Harrison, N.Y., Faith and Jay Forlenzo of Norwalk, Conn., Burt Casarella, Clark Casarella, both of Dawsonville; sisters and brother-in-law, Lucy and Ed Cianflone, Phyllis Tankredi, Emily Gizzo, all of White Plains, N.Y.; grandchildren, Gregory Casarella, Nancy Casarella, Tom Casarella, Annie Casarella, Christopher Cutts, Joey Forlenzo, Kirby Forlenzo; great-grandchildren, Katelyn Casarella, Joseph Casarella; mother-in-law, Hazel Stowers of Dawsonville; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Reggie and Carolyn Stowers of Dawsonville; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Dennis Bottoms, Tim Biddy, Phillip Burt and Leonard W. Ridings officiating.

Interment will follow in Juno Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juno Baptist Church Building Fund, 3185 Elliott Family Parkway, Dawsonville, GA 30534 or the Gideon's International Memorial Bible Fund, P.O. Box 174, Dawsonville, GA 30534.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville is in charge of the arrangements.