Linda Woodard Casey, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died peacefully in Sugar Land on August 22, one day before her 70th birthday. She was a lifelong resident of the Houston area and also made homes in Surfside and at the historic homestead of her ancestor John Starr in Anderson County.

Linda spent much of her remarkable life in service to others, in her family, her church, and her community. Her loving and giving nature touched many lives.

She was born in Houston to Dave and Lola Woodard, their second child and only daughter. As a child she enjoyed caring for and showing two horses, competing in western dressage. She graduated from Lee High School and the University of Houston with a degree in special education.

While in college she met Mike Casey, a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University, through her older brother, also a cadet. They were married in 1969 and lived in Virginia and Italy while Mike completed active-duty Army service before returning to Houston.

As a young mother Linda chose to make her children her priority. She raised four sons, the only woman in a household which, she once remarked, was like living at the Y. Even the dog was a boy. She later worked in the law office of her brother-in-law, Shawn Casey, and with her husband.

She was active in two parishes, St. Laurence in Sugar Land and St. Jerome in Clute, and two Theresian communities, Agape of Houston and Ebbtide of Sugar Land. She also helped organize several Theresian communities in the Houston area.

Linda found perhaps her greatest blessing and joy when she became a grandmother. Known as Nana, she took an active role in the lives of her grandchildren—four more boys—from day care to after-school care; trips to Surfside, East Texas, New York City, and elsewhere; and “Nana camps” during summer breaks.

Linda is preceded in death by her brother, Mitchell Arlen Woodard Sr.

She is survived by Mike, her husband of 49 years; her sons, Michael Jr. and his wife, Marci Silverman, of New York City; Kevin, his wife, Carla, and their sons, Evan and Ronnie, of Fulshear; Collin, his wife, Mandy, and their sons, Jack and Will, of Sugar Land; and Dave, of Allen.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Irene Watassek of Sugar Land, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 705 St. Theresa Blvd. in Sugar Land, with a Rosary at 7 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 5, at St. Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd. in Sugar Land, with a reception at the Parish Hall to follow.

Linda will be laid to rest privately at Starr Cemetery in Elkhart.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Linda’s life of love and service be made to the Arc of Fort Bend County, 123 Brooks St., Sugar Land, TX 77478 (ArcOfFortBend.org); Theresians International, 1237 West Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704 (Theresians.org); or to the charity of your choice.

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