Kathy Casey

Gaffney, SC - - Kathleen "Kathy" Casey, of Gaffney, South Carolina went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at the Spartanburg Medical Center.

Born in Marshalltown, Iowa, she was the widow to Raymond Casey and daughter to John Tvedt and Nellie Thiel Tvedt.

Kathy attended the University of Iowa before becoming a homemaker.  Later she was owner/operator of several businesses.  She retired from the State of Iowa Juvenile Home as a youth counselor before moving to Gaffney in 1988.  She attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church, was an avid gardener, and enjoyed traveling and RVing.  Her passion was rescuing and fostering animals.  She was a loving mother and grandmother.

Survived by her three children: Dawn Hayes (Jim) of North Liberty, Iowa, Jill Judge (Tim) of Columbus, Ohio and Todd Oelerich (Jeanne) of Loudon, Tennessee. Grandmother to seven grandchildren, Melissa (Derek) Eadon, Justin Hayes, Emily Hayes-Miller (Ben), Abigail Judge, Martha Judge (Ahmed), Carsten Judge and Anna Oelerich; two great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Maddox Eadon; two sisters, Roberta Scheid, Montour, Iowa, Carol Rinella, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Fredricks and a brother, Douglas Tvedt.

Kathy was a strong person who was admired for her rugged individualism, her high-spirited demeanor, and her strength in living her life according to her own convictions.  Those who knew her well found her fiercely independent truly dependent on no one, and willing to sacrifice much to maintain that independence.  Yet Kathy was always happy to hear from loved ones - she was particularly close to her three children and sister Roberta.

Kathy disposed to be kind to everyone, and held a special place for the dispossessed, especially stray cats.  She was never one to turn someone away in need of help.  Kathy was willing to work hard, showed fortitude in the face of adversity, and lived an active life of self-reliance.  The world would be a better place with more people of her qualities.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Cherokee County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2223, Gaffney, SC 29342.

The family will be at their respective homes.

An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome.com

Blakely Funeral Home & Crematory, Gaffney, SC