Mae Vanette Casey

Mae Vanette Casey passed away on Jan. 15, 2016 at Riverview Care Center in Spokane WA at the age of 90. Mae was born on Dec. 25, 1925 to Charles and Cora Secrist in Bonners Ferry, ID. She joined a brother, Wesley. Her mother passed away in 1930 and her father remarried Margaret Fortier. She gained a step-brother, Harry, and later two half-brothers, Chuck and Joe, and a half-sister, Karen. Mae was raised in Bonners Ferry, spending some of her youth in Troy and near Yaak, MT with her maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles. She graduated from BFHS. In 1944 she met her husband Harold “Dean” Casey. They had two children, Marjorie Mae and Gary Dean. Mae began working for the J.C. Penney Co. while still in high school and eventually became the store bookkeeper. She retired in 1984 as catalog manager after 33 years of employment. One of her favorite stories was of meeting “Mr. J.C. Penney himself” who she described as a very nice gentleman. After retiring, Mae became active in volunteer work at the Community Hospital and with the local senior assist tax program. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Penney’s Bowling League. She enjoyed her friends, family trips to Priest Lake and outings to the family property on the Moyie River. She was always up for an adventure especially if it involved her children or grandchildren. Love and support of her family was always her top priority. Mae was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and three of her siblings. She is survived by a daughter, Marjorie, Libby, MT; a son, Gary (Beverly), Spokane, WA; and her grandchildren, Deanna Purdy (Craig), Shannon Hughes (Jeff), Matthew Mercer, Robert Casey (Dianna), Debra Olson, (Tim), & Kevin Casey; a step-grandson, Brian Kratofil (Misty); her great-grandchildren, Justin Purdy, Megan Purdy, Elijah Olson, Sofie Olson, and Nathan Mercer; step-great-grandchildren, Dylan and Kendall Kratofil; her half-sister, Karen Hanly; and her sister-in-law, Carole Skeen. A Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 1:45 pm at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry, ID. Memorial donations can be made to Riverview Care Center. Contact 509-483-6483 if interested.