Debra Ruth Casey, 62, passed away and went to her heavenly home on Monday, June 6, 2016, after a brief illness. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Drive in Fort Worth. Per her wishes, her body was donated to science at U.T. Southwestern in Dallas. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please donate to Delta Gamma Sight Conservation and Aid to the Blind, or the charity of your choosing. Debra was born June 25, 1953, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Edward and Geraldine Oglesby. Her premature birth led to her being only partially sighted in one eye. She grew up in the Buffalo area but, after graduating from high school, moved with her mother to San Antonio where she met her future husband, Cary Jon Casey. Cary persuaded her to move to Lubbock so they could both attend Texas Tech University. Due to her visual impairment, much of her education was paid for through the Texas State Commission for the Blind. After a brief romance, Debra and Cary were married, in Cary's home town of Fort Worth, on May 18, 1974. Debra received her Bachelor of Science Degree in education from Texas Tech in May of 1976. Debra and Cary moved from Lubbock to Fort Worth in 1978 after Cary completed his studies; they recently celebrated 42 years of marriage. Debra devoted herself to being a full-time mother and grandmother for most of her life, but she did work for several years as a medical assistant for a local eye surgeon. She was a caring, generous mother and grandmother, always willing to sacrifice herself in any way for her family. She also deeply loved animals, especially her pet Beagles, Dudley and Sadie. Survivors: Husband, Cary Casey; sons, Collin and Cameron Casey; daughter, April Casey; mother, Geraldine Oglesby Bennett; brother, Dan Oglesby; grandsons, Tanner and Noah Casey, and Parks and Anden Elliott; granddaughter, Ava Roe; and Sadie the Beagle.
Published in Star-Telegram on June 12, 2016