Obituary: Casey, Elsie
Age 96
Elsie May Casey was born May 2, 1916, to John and Ida Jane Long in their family home near Kamiak Butte in Whitman County, WA.
She was the youngest and the last surviving sibling in a family of eleven children.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, A. Howard Casey, in 2003, and a great-grandchild in 2007.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet (Bob) Kensok of Spokane Valley; her son, Ross (Pat) Casey; and grandchildren David (Cindy) Casey, and Michael (Jennifer) Casey, all of Boise, ID, and Kristine (Ross) Schellhaas of San Clemente, CA, and six great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She attended high school in Colfax, WA, and graduated in 1938 from Washington State University, receiving her BA in Home Economics and was a member of the Erani Club.
After graduation, Elsie taught Home Economics at the high school in Cusick, WA.
She worked in the office at Inland Motor Freight until she became a full-time homemaker.
She met Howard while she was living in Cusick.
They were married at Geiger Field Chapel in November, 1942.
During WWII, they were stationed at Geiger Field, Galveston and Colorado Springs where Staff Sergeant Casey was a Link Trainer Instructor, settling in Spokane after the war.
They relied on their talents to build several of their homes in the Spokane Valley.
Howard was self-employed for many of their married years and Elsie was his partner in Casey’s Market in Dishman and for ten years at the Mt.
Spokane Ski Lodge until 1966.
She worked in a drapery shop until she retired.
She enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking, reading and genealogy.
They also enjoyed many camping trips to British Columbia and annual family reunions in the Palouse area.
After their retirement, they took a six-week trip in their motorhome through Canada and back to the New England states to enjoy the fall colors.
Elsie loved to share her garden crops and talent for sewing clothing and draperies with her family, friends and neighbors.
She enjoyed taking walks and watching the birds and animals near their home, and meeting up with neighbors along the way.
Even though she had macular degeneration in her later years, she continued to make a batch of cookies each week, listened to books on tape and kept in good health by walking a couple of miles each day.
The family is very grateful for the kind care given to Elsie by FHC/Gentiva Hospice staff and Sullivan Park Assisted Living staff.
At Elsie’s request, no memorial service is planned.