John Eagle Casey

John Eagle Casey, long time resident of Midland, passed away March 24, 2021.

John was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas on July 26, 1928.  He was the son of John Edmond Casey and Clyde Eagle Casey of Fayetteville.  He attended Fayetteville schools, graduating from high school in 1946.  He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1950 with a B.S. Degree in Geology and was a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, an honorary geology fraternity, and a member of the Pershing Rifles Honorary Military Fraternity. He joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1948 and was called to active duty in September 1950.  He was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and later saw combat in Korea as an operations and intelligence NCO with the 15^th FA Battalion, 2^nd Inf. Division.  He was honorably discharged in May of 1952 with the rank of Master Sergeant.   While stationed at Fort Bragg in 1950, John met the love of his life, Annette Inge, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and they married on September 8, 1954.

After active military duty, John returned to the University of Arkansas and obtained the M.S. Degree in Geology in 1953.  He was employed by Gulf Oil Corp and worked in Fort Worth, Texas before being sent to Midland, Texas.  He worked for Gulf for 17 years until 1970, when he resigned to work for Jake L. Hamon, a Dallas oil producer.  He was promoted to the West Texas-New Mexico exploration manager for Hamon in 1975.  He took early retirement in 1985 and became a consulting geologist.  John was a 50 year member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and a longtime member of the West Texas Geological Society, which honored him with their Pioneer Award in 2005. As a father, John was active as a Little League basketball and baseball coach and was active as a leader/helper in Boy Scouts.  He was an avid bowler and golfer and is one of a few golfers to have two holes-in-one. He was also active in Toastmasters for many years and served as President of the Permian Toastmaster Club.  John and Annette are members of First United Methodist Church of Midland.  He was also a longtime member and elder of Grace Presbyterian Church, Midland, TX.

John is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ethel Annette Casey, two sons, John D. Casey (Daughter in law, Leah Owens Casey) of Carrollton, Texas, and Patrick Samuel Casey of Midland.  He is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Virginia Nell Tuck of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and four grandchildren, Joshua Casey, Jonathan Casey, Sarah Drury, and Laura Moody, and five great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church Chapel.  Interment will follow in Resthaven Cemetery, Midland.  In remembrance, flowers can be sent to the Funeral Home or memorial gifts may be given to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Services and arrangements are entrusted to Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be at www.npwelch.com.