Billie Jean (Blazek) Casey

Billie Jean Blazek Casey, 75, of Bryan passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2015. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 15th, from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel at 1515 S. College Ave. in Bryan. Funeral services will be Monday, November 16th, at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Bryan City Cemetery.

Billie Jean was born in Bryan, Texas to William and Martha Fuschak Blazek. She accepted Christ as her Savior when she was ten years old. She attended Bryan schools and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1958. She was a piccolo player, trick twirler and drum major in the Bronco band. She was also an avid tennis player in high school, where she nearly qualified for the state tennis tournament in doubles with her tennis partner and lifetime friend, Janice Beal Wilson.

In 1961, she graduated from Baylor University with a B.A. Degree in History. She also earned a Master of Education Degree from Texas A&M University in 1963. Later in her teaching career, she earned a second master’s degree from SHSU in Library Science.

She married the late Robert R. “Bob” Casey on April 21, 1962. They were blessed in marriage for 52 years. Together, they had two children, the late Sue Ellen Casey Kueck and Robert Casey. Billie Jean was an active member at Central Baptist Church for many years. She taught first grade Sunday School for 12 years. She also enjoyed playing the piano each Sunday at Sherwood Nursing Home.

She taught in Bryan ISD for 25 years at Anson Jones, Stephen F. Austin Junior High and Bryan High School. Teaching was her passion. She poured her soul into her students and, by doing so, gained brilliant writers who enjoyed their newfound creative voice. Because of her dedication, she earned the Bryan ISD Teacher of the Year Award in 1995. Following her teaching career, she continued to invest in students’ lives by working at the Blinn College Learning Center, as well as serving as a mentor teacher to Senior Methods’ students at Texas A&M University.

Billie Jean loved to play tennis, read, write, play the piano and work in the garden at the farm. She thoroughly enjoyed the unpredictability of watching for hummingbirds in her backyard and traveling to Rockport with Bob to see as many birds as possible. She traveled near and far, routinely, to support her children and grandchildren over the years as they competed in numerous sporting and academic events.

She is preceded in death by: her parents, Will and Martha Blazek; husband, Robert R. “Bob” Casey; and her daughter, Sue Ellen Casey Kueck.

She is survived by: her son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Julia Casey of Bryan; eight grandchildren; one great grandchild; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ridley and Shirley Briggs of Mount Vernon, TX; sister-in-law, Wray Casey of Bryan and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Foundation (In memory of Sue Ellen Casey Kueck).