Charles Kenneth Casey

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, classmate, mentor, historian, and one that loved the Lord for all the blessing bestowed upon him in only 85 short years. Known to many as Charles, some as Kenneth, but more often than not, he introduced himself as Casey.

Casey enjoyed reading the Old Testament – He would say “You don’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you’ve been.”

It is important to share a few things about Casey so you may enjoy the journey he walked, the things he taught, and the lives that he touched throughout the years.

Born in Winston Salem, NC on March 5, 1936, in the clinic next door to the doctor’s office, Charles was the firstborn of two children. (His sister Carolyn would follow a few years later). His mother was a homemaker and his father was an electrician with Western Electric. In the days following Charles’s birth, he and his mother stayed with his Maternal Grandmother so she could help her daughter as a first time mom. Charles’ mom was one of seven children.

Charles’ biggest hero was his father and he always said he wanted to be the man his father was. Charles often worked by his father’s side allowing his father to share many skills with him, skills that Charles himself passed along to his son and grandsons. Charles often helped his father maintain the churchyard while he was growing up. Although the years during WWII were hard on Charles with his father being away, Charles was blessed with many Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. Not only because of his mother’s siblings, but his father also, had 12 siblings as well.

Fun Fact - As a child, Charles’ loved to hunt squirrels and even worked on a dairy farm as a teenager.

During Charles’ school years, he began at Old Town School. As a first grader, you entered in one door and you exited twelfth grade through the door in the back. His graduating class was 52 people. His classmates called him Kenneth. He was the Captain of the Football team and he was so proud that they won the State Championship in his senior year. He loved reunions with his classmates and the teachers; after all of these years, they have remained close. Kenneth also known as Charles (along with Vicki) even made a point to visit with his football coach on a few occasions when traveling from North Carolina to Florida.

In 1958 Charles Kenneth “Casey” was drafted into the Army and stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is when he fell in love with the WEST and CASEY became yet another name his friends would call him. Although he was drafted being legally blind in one eye, he became a sharpshooter with (Carbine), (Pistol .45), and (Rifle M-1). He was discharge in 1960 and served in the reserves until 1964. Casey stated he would go back in if he could – he felt it was a wonderful experience.

In 1965 Charles and Vicki met and in May of that year were married. They have three children, Michelle, Cynthia, and Donald.

Charles loved cars and worked for a good part of their marriage as an auto mechanic taking the family to a variety of towns throughout Texas and New Mexico. Charles held a variety of positions from District Service Manager for Volkswagen, Service Manager in an Audi dealership and Manager, Assistant Manager and Technician in several other auto dealerships throughout his career.

Upon returning to New Mexico, Charles opened his own Auto Repair Shop. As the children were getting older, Donald began to show interest in cars, racecars to be specific and they even built one together. Donald drove it on the circle dirt track. Charles took Don and some other young men under his wing and they built and drove race cars from the time Don was about 14 until after Donald graduated from High School.

Charles was very involved with the youth group when Michelle became a teenager and stayed active as Cynthia and Don became teenagers.

Charles taught Bible Bowl at Bosque Farms Church of Christ in New Mexico, where they would enter Bible Bowl competitions in Lubbock, TX at Sunset School of Preaching. Charles would drive the bus to Lubbock. He also did all the maintenance on the Church bus and kept it in top shape.

In the late 90’s (Charles and Vicki) moved and started attending the church in Belen, New Mexico. It was just a little closer to their new home. In Belen, Charles worked with the Men Maintaining the Church grounds and they built a play area for the children that was fenced in.

Because the church membership was small, about 80, Charles oftentimes filled multiple roles during the services by serving communion and leading the opening and/or closing prayer.

Charles’ love and appreciation for the family came from his father. Charles’ father began recording the family history. When he passed away, Charles picked up where his father left off. He enjoyed building his family tree. This was also a way to reunite with his cousins, Aunts, and Uncles. He has gotten to know so many of his cousins and second cousins by reaching out through this avenue. Charles was so proud to say that he has an Aunt on his father’s side and an Aunt on his Mother’s side who are still living and has stayed in close contact with them.

He sponsored the Casey Family Reunion in 2019 in Winston-Salem, NC.

He is very proud of and dearly loves his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Children Michelle Emond, Cynthia Rice and her husband David and Donald Casey.

Stepson Jim Drew and his wife Alison.

Grandson Richard Apodaca, wife Jennifer and great granddaughter Alyssa from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Grandson Gilbert Granados and great granddaughter Alicia of California.

Granddaughter Nicole Granados and great-grandson Anthony Caldwell of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Grandson Michael Emond and his wife Melanie and great-granddaughter Bellabei of Darby Kansas.

Grandson Benjamin Casey, his wife Amanda, Great-granddaughter Alison, great grandson Lucas of Groveland, Florida.

Grandson Brandon Keith and his wife Katie of Holly Springs, Georgia.

Grandchildren Nigel, Jade and Jace of Sugarland, Texas.

As we celebrate the life of Charles Kenneth Casey, his heritage, his legacies, his contributions, and accomplishments, – Charles said he wanted to be the man his father was and without a shadow of doubt I think we can all agree - He most definitely filled those shoes!