Obituary of Mary Casey

CASEY, Mary Frances (nee Willhoite) Elam of Middletown was called home to be in the arms of Jesus and to reunite with her family July 16, 2014 at the age of 74. She was born January 23, 1940 in Lebanon, Ohio to William Spencer and Scytha Marie Thompson Willhoite. She was the middle daughter of 5. Mary was a polio victim in 1944 & 1945. Her left arm was paralyzed but she fully recovered from it. Mary always said that God must have had work for her to do with two good arms. She was educated at Harlan Butlerville School in Butlerville, Ohio and Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Ohio until the middle of her freshman year when she quit school and got married. She went to night school and obtained her GED in 1973. She then went to D. Russell Lee Vocational School in Hamilton, Ohio and studied Practical Nursing. She received her nursing degree in 1976 and worked until 1989 as a licensed Practical Nurse. She had wanted to be a nurse since she was 7 years old when she often helped her mother take care of her half-sister who had tuberculosis. She worked for 18 years at several different nursing homes and at Middletown Regional Hospital as a nursing assistant before getting her nursing license. She then decided she liked to work with the elderly in the nursing homes after becoming a nurse because so many never had anyone visit them. She had to retire in 1989 when she caught a large man at work to keep him from falling and injured her back resulting in 4 surgeries and pain the rest of her life. One of her patients had not been out of the home or had visitors in over two years. Mary took her home with her one night because all she talked about was wanting a spaghetti dinner, which Mary cooked for her. She lived about 6 more months and that was all she talked about every time she talked to someone always telling them "I went to Casey's house for dinner". It was a common thing for her to befriend someone in need and open her home for them untilthey got on their feet. Mary accepted the Lord as her Savior July 4, 1955. She had wanted to go see fireworks that night but her dad said they were going to church. She always said that was the the greatest fireworks she ever saw! She got away from the Lord for a while when her home was broken up but got back to Him in 1990. She was a member of the Pentecostal faith. Her father was a Pentecostal minister. As a young girl, she and her younger sister Joyce would sing in church and Mary would play the piano. On March 29th, 1956 she married Bruce Elam. To this union were born 4 sons. These boys were her pride and joy and she was always extremely proud of "my little men". Mary and Bruce were divorced in May of 1974 after 18 years together. On April 29, 1978, she married her soul mate and best buddy, Paul Francis Casey. They had 34 years & 9 months of good marriage. She loved keeping house, crocheting, cross-stitch and quilting. She also loved to take care of her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She made a lot of clothing for the grandchildren when they were young. Mary also loved to can fresh veggies from whose ever garden they grew in. She was no longer able to raise her own garden, which was a hobby in her younger years. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Rev. Spencer Willhoite in 1966 and Scytha Thompson Willhoite in 1999. Her first husband Dec. 17, 2012, second husband Paul F. Casey February 1, 2013 as he was eating dinner...she watched him take his last breath, second son Paul Lynn Elam December 23, 1981 at the age of 21, her sister Ruby Hedge Wicker in 2005, sister Joyce Robertson November 18, 2013, half-sister Edith Dawson at the age of 24 in 1949, half-brother Glen Willhoite in 1997, nephew Glen D. Willlhoite at the age of 15 in 1964 and niece Candy Hedge January 12, 2014. She is survived by 3 wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws - Phillp Lee (Tammy) Elam of Onalaska, Texas, Patrick Lew (Melissa) Elam of Miamisburg, Ohio and Prescott Layne (Trish) Elam of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; daughter-in-law Ardyth (Kriss) Elam of Middletown, Ohio. Nine grandchildren: William Thomas (Alicia) Elam, Tasha Robins, Marissa Elam, Jon Paul (Megan) Elam, Kaitlyn Elam, Ryan Elam, Jamie Wallace, Britny Elam and Shelby Elam. Great grandchildren Chastity Anne Robins, Bradley Philip Robins, Dylan Michael Elam. Caden William-Lee Elam, Spencer Michael Wallace and Sage McKensey Wallace; sisters Bernice Meadows of Blanchester and Billie (Fred) Napier of Lebanon, Ohio; 17 nieces and nephews and numerous other family members. Friends may call on the family Sunday, July 20, 2014 from 6pm until 8pm at the Full Gospel Church of God, Lebanon, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at the church Monday, July 21, 2014 at 12:00pm at the church with Reverend Ray Napier and Fred Napier officiating. Burial will follow in the Fellowship Cemetery, Union Township. The family appreciates memorial donations that are directed to the Full Gospel Church of God, Lebanon. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.stinekilburnfuneralhome.com.