Carol Virginia Wolcott Casey, 88, passed peacefully on February 10, 2026, at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. She was born on April 18, 1937, in Ravenna, Ohio and from the very beginning carried with her a light that would brighten every room she entered.

Carol was the beloved wife of Terrence “Terry” Casey, her devoted husband of 66 years. Theirs was a love story built on faithfulness, sharing everything, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to family.

Nothing mattered more to Carol than her family. She was the heart of it, the steady pulse that kept everyone connected. She is survived by her loving husband, Terry Casey; her children, Sean Casey and Shannon Sheehan; her daughter-in-law, Laura Casey; her grandchildren, Brenna Casey, John Sheehan, and Catherine Sheehan; her granddaughter-in-law, Cheyene Casey; her great-grandchildren, Blakely Casey and Elliot Faust; and her sister, Sally Ann Myers. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Ryan Patrick Casey, and her great-grandson, Michael Patrick Casey, both of whom she carried in her heart every day.

Carol graduated from University of West Virginia and began her career as an elementary school teacher. Teaching was more than a profession, it was an extension of who she was. She had a natural gift for nurturing, encouraging, and seeing the good in others. That same spirit shaped her home life, where she was happiest as a mother, grandmother, and joyful caretaker of everyone she loved.

She raised her family in Salem, creating a home that became a sanctuary of warmth and welcome. Her table was always full, her door always open. No one left hungry, not for food, and not for affection. She had a remarkable gift for smiling at strangers and turning them into friends before the conversation was over. Carol never hesitated to strike up a conversation in a grocery store line or on a park bench. She believed people were meant to connect, and she treated everyone as if they mattered, because to her, they did.

After many cherished trips to Hilton Head Island, and spending time beneath wide coastal skies and sandy white beaches, Carol and Terry made the island their permanent home in January 1993. There, close to children and grandchildren, she found her deepest joy. She delighted in everyday moments: school pickups, shared laughter, impromptu visits, and the comfort of knowing her family was near.

Every house Carol lived in became a gathering place. Stories were told, poems were read, and laughter lingered long after the dishes were cleared. She had a playful, creative spirit and loved writing quirky little poems that made others smile. She served for many years as a Rotary Reader, generously giving her time to children, believing deeply in the power of books and encouragement.

Carol loved animals and found simple happiness in feeding her backyard bird, Blue, along with a bright red cardinal she affectionately named “Mr. Chips.” She noticed small things, a new bloom, a child’s accomplishment, a neighbor who might need a kind word. She was always doing for others, often quietly and without recognition. Acts of service were simply how she moved through the world.

Her love was steady and attentive. She checked in often. She wanted to know everyone was safe, happy, and cared for. Her voice on the other end of the phone, her handwritten notes, her familiar smile, these were the threads that stitched her family together.

Carol’s life was a testament to kindness in action: to smiling first, loving freely, talking openly, and giving generously. She leaves behind a family rooted in the values she lived every day, compassion, warmth, resilience, and devotion.

A celebration of her beautiful life will be announced at a later date.