Billy Ray Casas

Billy Ray Casas was born on October 16th, 1935, in Eldred, Minnesota to Ygnacio and Agnes (Baker) Casas. He was the oldest of 2 children and was followed by his little sister Helen. Billy loved being outdoors as much as possible and this time was spent hunting and fishing, often with his uncle, Boon Cook.

Bill married Gloria Butler on March 5th, 1955, in Welling, OK and this was the start of their lifelong adventure together. Bill joined the United States Air Force, and they traveled all over and lived all over as well. This marriage produced 5 children, Brenda, William, Jackie, Carolyn, and Janice.

After he joined the Air Force, Bill discovered what would prove to be one of his greatest passions, airplanes. His love of planes and the untold number of hours he would spend in them either on the ground as maintenance or in the air as flight engineer or loadmaster would fill him with the most amazing sense of pride and wonder. He often said his favorite thing in the world was the feel of a C141 as it took off and the view from its windows as it traveled to its next destination. Bill served in Viet Nam and would retire from the Air Force in 1974. He would use the GI Bill to attend Northeastern State University where he learned drafting and design. After school he would work in Tulsa and finally in Muskogee where he retired from The Tubular Corporation of America.

Bill and Gloria would move to Rose, Oklahoma and after this retirement he took up new trades and hobbies in his ever-present goal to better himself. He taught himself furniture upholstery and piano tuning and was a member of the Piano Tuners Guild. His favorite times were traveling with Gloria to visit family or working in his garden, or just picking his guitar to learn a new song. He loved teaching his grandchildren to fish and would have impromptu fishing tournaments with them whenever the chance arose.

He was a deacon at the Mt. Zion General Baptist Church in Teresita and was active in the church where he would play guitar or do anything that needed to be done until his health prevented it. This did not diminish his faith or his love of the Lord. Bill earned his eternal wings on December 22nd, 2024. He is preceded in death by his wife Gloria, his son William who died in infancy, and his daughter Janice. He is survived by his daughter Brenda Owen of Douglas, GA, his daughter Jackie and her husband Kenneth Farrow of Tahlequah, and his daughter Carolyn and her husband Randy Hamilton of Lockport, IL. Also surviving Bill are his seven grandchildren, Mariah Hix and husband Billy, Angela Farrow, Laura Selshtut and husband Marat, Dee Bell and wife Veronica, Martha Bell, William Coyne, and Kevin Coyne, as well what he considered the greatest great grandchildren ever.

Pallbearers include Billy Hix, Arlie Girdner, Levi Hix, Glen Braddy, Cody Nottingham, Randy Hamilton.

Honorary Pallbearers include Dee Bell, Doyle Bell, William Coyne, Kevin Coyne, Samuel Hix, Eli Hix, Tony Girdner, Robie Girdner.

A visitation for Billy will be held Sunday, December 29, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 West Delaware Street, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. A graveside service will occur Monday, December 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, 1423 Cemetery Road, Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma. Services will be officiated by Glenn Carpenter.

Billy will be laid to rest in Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, 1423 Cemetery Road, Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma.