January 21, 2021, we lost our shining light, Margaret Joyce Casey (Blondie to those who go back many years.) She was born in Kelso, Washington on September 3, 1933, to Clyde John Davis and Ida Marie Backman Davis. She left peacefully at home with her family by her side. She had been fighting health issues for the last year.
Her father died when she was ten and she moved with her mother to Fallon when she was fourteen. She met Michael P. Casey, handsome cowboy, and within three months they were married. Mike had 4 children when they got married, Pat, Anita, Marvin, and MaryLin, blessing her with 7 grandchildren, 15, great grandchildren and 7 great, great-grandchildren. Joyce (Blondie) and Mike had two children, Violet and Mick. From those two children, she had 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 12 great, great-grandchildren to date. When her daughter remarried, 21 years ago, she was blessed with 5 additional grandkids, 6 great grands, and 4 great, great grands. She sure loved all her grandchildren, greats, and great greats, even if she couldn't name them all!
Everyone who knew her, knew what a sparkling personality she possessed, always saying whatever came to mind, right to the end. So strong, we never realized just how strong she was until we watched her the last few weeks. She spent many years ranching with her husband, owning ranches in Fallon, Dixie Valley, Pleasant Valley, Horse Creek, and Clan Alpine, running many head of range cattle. We learned every old cowboy song known, from mom, riding behind a herd of cattle.
After being gone from her home state of Washington for thirty years, we returned for a visit and went every year for the next 25 years. She showed us all the places she had told us stories about from her childhood. We saw the “Rock” she slid down on her belly, in her party dress, in the mud; the house she lived in, the shop that made the cream puffs she loved, the Cowlitz River she swam in, Spirit Lake (below Mt. St. Helen's) where she camped as a child, and the Columbia River where her uncles were fisherman. We also saw Mt. St Helen's before and after it blew, but most of all the ocean. We stayed on beachfront property a week of every one of the 25 years we went to visit. She loved the ocean! If there are any regrets, it's that we couldn't take her to the ocean one more time.
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Mike Casey, stepdaughter Patty, four step-grandchildren, Brad, John, and Richie Miller, and Curtis Casey, great great-grandchildren, Marley Rechel, and step great great grand children, Macie Miller, and Sean Miller, and her brother, Ronald C. Davis. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Violet and Mick Miller, son and daughter-in-law, Mick and Claudia Casey, of Fallon, and her brother Robert G. “Bob” Davis of San Francisco, along with all her grand, great grand and great, great-grandchildren, and many, many nieces and nephews.
Due to Covid, there will be a private service. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to The Threshingfloor Ministries, 360 S. Maine St., Fallon NV 89406, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are with Smith Family Funeral Home, (775)423-2255.
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