Obituary

Louise Casey

Sept. 19, 1923 – Sept. 7, 2020

Louise Casey, age 96, passed away Monday, Sept. 7, 2020 at her home in Lee’s Summit. Mrs. Casey was born on Sept. 19, 1923 to Mr. and Mrs. Bernie B. Brodhacker in Springfield, MO.

She graduated from Springfield Central High School in 1941. She was concertmistress of her high school orchestra, and the delegate to Girl’s State from her high school.

She attended Drury College and graduated from Southwest Missouri State Teacher’s College, with a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Biology.

She taught in a one room schoolhouse in Texas County, MO. She also taught schools at Nixa, Springfield, Des Moines, Columbia, and Lee’s Summit. She taught a summer mission Sunday School to river communities in rural Ohio.

She married Don Casey on June 5, 1949 in Springfield, and they set up home in Columbia. After Don finished schooling on the GI bill, they moved to Winston Salem, NC, where he was employed at Western Electric. They moved back to Missouri in 1957 and built a house in Lee’s Summit in which she lived the rest of her life.

Louise loved poetry, memorized many poems, and wrote a book of poetry. She also wrote a book about her experiences teaching in a one room schoolhouse in rural Missouri. Louise loved hiking, picnics in the woods, nature, wildlife, cooking, sewing, reading, classical music and Christmas with family. A family hike after Thanksgiving dinner was a loved tradition.

Louise was a member of the Congregational Church in Springfield, and then the Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church. She was very active in church activities. She was Director of Sunday School Education, Director of Vacation Bible School, Church Library Chair, member of Upper Room Sunday School taught by Fred Fuller, and member of United Methodist Women, and cooked for many church dinners.

Mrs. Casey was preceded in death by her husband, Don Casey, her parents, Bernie and Esther Brodhacker, and her grandson, Finian Brock. She is survived by her children, David Casey of Overland Park, KS, Paul Casey (Jeannie) of Brentwood, TN and Jill Brock (Bob) of Lee’s Summit, and 3 grandchildren, Jenessa Casey, Austin Casey, and Cameron Brock; a brother, John Brodhacker of Evansville, IN, two sisters in law, Irene Underwood, of Springfield, and Nan Casey of Webster Groves, MO and 5 nieces, 2 nephews, and many loving friends.

Graveside services will be Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church.