John Mark Casey

John Mark Casey, 87, of Winterville passed away on September 29, 2024. Born on September 24, 1937, he was the son of the late John Thomas Casey and Margaret Sumner Casey.

John was raised on a farm southwest of Stillwater, Oklahoma. Working alongside his parents and seven older siblings, he loved dealing with their farm livestock. This led to a lifelong career as an extension specialist supporting people in live production in the poultry industry in Georgia. After serving in the military, and a short stint working in the oil fields of Oklahoma, John decided college was the route for him. He first attended Oklahoma State University. After being too shy to hardly speak to her for years, John married Donna Hesson, a girl he had known all his life, and she was the love of his life. Their first years of marriage were spent in Stillwater, Oklahoma. After obtaining his Master’s degree, they moved to Northwest Arkansas where John was the Poultry Farm Manager for the University of Arkansas. They moved back to Ardmore, Oklahoma where their daughter was born in 1965. Their next moves were to Enid, Oklahoma and on to Alabama where John taught classes at the Tuskegee Institute and their son was born in 1967. They next moved to Washington State University in Pullman.

After obtaining his PhD, John moved his family to Georgia where he worked as an Extension Poultry Specialist and later became Chair of the Extension Poultry Science Department at the University of Georgia. The family first lived at Oakwood and then Lula. After he retired in 1991, John and Donna moved to Winterville where he continued consulting work, most recently with Latham Farms in Pendergrass until 2021.

While John ended up far from his childhood home, he never forgot his family back home. Miles separated them, but they remained close-knit. He and Donna enjoyed traveling back to see them to help care for his sisters, who had cared for him devotedly in his childhood.

John was also a man of faith and a family man. He looked forward to meeting with those of his faith each Sunday morning and Wednesday night. He instilled his values and work ethic in his children and grandchildren, who he loved dearly and enjoyed spending time with. John and Donna made many friends and were content wherever they lived.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six sisters, one brother, and their spouses. Luvina Casey, Catherine Casey, Flossie Casey, Ruth Casey, Dollie Keith (Millard), Mary Anna Thompson (Olis) and brother Thomas Casey (Peggy).

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Donna Casey; children, Susan Holladay (Ted), Winterville, GA, Kendall Casey (Sherri), Aberdeen, NC; grandchildren, Austin Holladay, Deerfield Beach, FL, Lyle Holladay, North Port, FL, Alea Munoz, Aberdeen, NC, McKenna Casey, Aberdeen, NC, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Monday, October 7, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Lord & Stephens, EAST, Athens, GA. A funeral service will be held the Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 11:00 AM in the chapel with interment at Winterville Cemetery. The funeral service will be live streamed on the Lord & Stephens Facebook page. 

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens is entrusted with arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com.