Osborne "Casey" E. Casey, 78

Osborne "Casey" E. Casey, 78, passed away Aug. 27, 2009, surrounded by his family. Casey was born in Boise, Idaho, on Dec. 19, 1930, to Osborne and Helen Little Casey. He grew up in Mountain Home, Idaho, and graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1949.

Casey married Jean McGrath in Mountain Home on Aug. 12, 1953.

He attended the University of Idaho, was a member of Delta Chi and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1954.

Casey began working for the Idaho Fish and Game. He and Jean lived and worked for two years at Henry's Lake during the summers, and Hagerman Fish Hatchery during the winters. During this time he also worked on a water project for Fish and Game in Boise.

In 1956, Casey and Jean returned to the U of I for a Master of Science (Fisheries' degree. He worked for Idaho Fish and Game for 16 years, finishing in Pocatello as area fisheries biologist.

Casey transferred to the U.S. Forest Service and the family lived in Kalispell from 1970 to 1974. In 1974, the family moved to Reno, Nev., and he worked for the Bureau of Land Management, until retirement in 1992. With the BLM he earned a Masters in Wildlife Biology degree.

In retirement Casey and Jean spent summers at Ashley Lake near Kalispell and winters in Meridian, Idaho. Casey was a tremendous outdoorsman his entire life.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter, Stephanie, and Jeff Hammett, of Kalispell; son, Clint, and Carolyn Casey, of Boise; granddaughters, Sammie and Danylle Hammett and Ellia Casey; sister, Carol, and Robert Cox, of Seattle; and nephews, Ken and Kathe Cox, and Mitch and Wendy Cox, and children.

At Casey's request there will be no funeral. The family will greet friends at Clint and Carolyn's home, from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Sept. 1.

Those interested may make memorials to Elmore County Historical Society or The Nature Conservancy.