Charles Joseph Caskey, M.D., 84, of Beaumont, died Tuesday, November 27, 2012, peacefully at his home.
He was born on July 10, 1928, to Janie and Malcolm Caskey, on a farm in Florence and was the oldest of six children. Chuck was raised with a lot of hard work, good clean fun, and at the time when electricity had not made it to the farm. Education was always valued in his home.
Chuck graduated Valedictorian from Briggs High School in 1946, with thirteen students in his graduation class. After high school he attended The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in bacteriology, graduating in 1951. It was here that he met Mary Helen Kivch in a chemistry lab.
They married in 1951, and he attended University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, graduating in 1955. Mom worked hard teaching to help support those medical school years. I think the agreement went something like this: “Mary, you work the first four years and I will work the rest.” (He married a very smart woman.)
Chuck spent the next three years as a Lieutenant in the Army, serving in Hawaii, San Francisco, and Georgia.
He started his practice in Beaumont in 1958. His first office was McCall and Caskey on Washington Boulevard. Later he built an office near Medical and Surgical Hospital. The doctors and staff that he worked with became like family. So many wonderful memories were shared during his years of practicing medicine.
Chuck Caskey absolutely loved medicine and loved every aspect of being a doctor. He started his practice at a time when doctors made house calls and had patients call his home with questions. Chuck delivered countless babies and watched his patients grow, marry, and have children. He worked at Hotel Dieu, Baptist Hospital, Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth, and MASH Hospitals. He was Chief of Staff at Christus Hospital and MASH. Chuck was president for many years of the local Texas Academy of Family Practice and was a member of AMA and TMA.
Chuck Caskey was a wonderful husband and father. He and Mary raised three children: Jim, Gordon, and Christie. Although he attended countless football games and recitals, most of his efforts as a father were spent enjoying his family with outdoor activities. As a family they fished, hunted, raised cattle, rode motorcycles, 3-wheelers, 4-wheelers, boated, and water skied.
Chuck Caskey became Chuckbaby after the first grandchild declared him so. He has been Chuckbaby ever since. He was a fantastic granddad to Michelle, Camille, Charles, Angela, Blake, Hunter, Beverly, Emilie, Sophie, and Stewart. He had a special relationship with each one of his grandchildren. This didn’t just happen. Chuck took the time to make it happen. He loved them all and was so proud of each of them.
He was not just Chuckbaby to his blood grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He opened his heart to so many that he became everyone’s Chuckbaby. His eyes would light up when the three “adopted grandchildren” from the house across the street would come to visit. He had a place in his heart for so many, a true gift for giving and an ornery wit that attracted many and made people laugh.
After his medical career of forty-two years ended due to a hunting accident, he took up making stained glass and loved helping at the church and Some Other Place. Chuck also enjoyed helping Mary in the kitchen. He was a fabulous chopper. Chuck and Mary loved to cook lemon squares, pies, cakes, put up figs, and okra. He also loved visiting with his old staff, his many old patients, and countless friends and neighbors. His favorite days were spent on the deck, at the back of his home watching birds and squirrels under an enormous oak tree that he planted almost fifty years ago.
Charles, alias Chuck, alias Chuckbaby, was a man that loved what he did, and did things the best he could; he shared life with those he loved, and loved many. Chuck loved God, hard work, a good joke, a cold Shiner Bach, nature, learning, history, and good friends. His constant wit made us think and made us laugh.
He will be missed.
Chuck is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Mary Helen Caskey; children, Jim Caskey and his wife, Ann; Gordon Caskey and his wife, Lisa; and Christie Piercy and her husband, Lawrence; grandchildren, Michelle Haney and her husband, Ron; Camille Burgoyne and her husband, David; Charles Caskey and his wife, Crystal; Blake Caskey; Angela Hafernick and her husband, Brian; Hunter Caskey and his wife, Rosemarie; Emilie Eskridge and her husband, Michael; Sophia Piercy; Beverly Caskey; and Stewart Piercy; great-grandchildren, Alexandra Haney, Amelia Haney, Ella Burgoyne, Chloe Eskridge, Doug Eskridge; brothers, James Caskey of Austin, Kenneth Caskey of Lake Buchannan, and Davis Caskey of Richmond, Virginia; and sisters, Joyce Ledger of Sugar Land and Glynda Orr of Alvin.
A gathering of Dr. Caskey’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, November 29, 2012, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 30, 2012, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont. His committal will be at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or to a charity of one’s choice.
