Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Jean Anne (Hanel) Casey, 79 years young, passed away on May 16, 2024, at home with her husband, Carl, of nearly 40 years. He had been her caregiver for the last three years and she was the love of his life.
Along with her identical twin Janet, Jean, was born to L. Sterling and Kathleen Hanel in Hood River, Ore., on March 14, 1945. The Hanel family lived in the Mt. Hood area during the kids’ childhood years. The girls, along with their older brothers Robert and Bill, would walk to the Mt. Hood grade school. Jean and Janet graduated from Wy‘East High School in the class of ‘63.
Jean met this young man in high school that she would eventually marry, Fritz Swyers. They were living on Eastside Road when Fritz joined the Navy. It was during this time she gave birth to their first child, John Allen Swyers, in 1965. A couple years later they moved to the Bremerton, Wash., area to be closer to the Navy Base. Ronald Troy, their second son, was born in 1970.
After their marriage ended, Jean and the boys moved to Wyandotte, Okla., to be nearer to her sister Janet. Jean raised her boys and waitressed for about two years before deciding to move back to the Hood River area. After returning to Hood River, Jean married Tom Wilson of Parkdale, Ore., where they soon had daughter Azur Dee in 1978. Tom tried orcharding in the Parkdale area before their marriage ended.
For several years Jean worked for her father at the Hanel Lumber Company upper mill. It was while working at Hanel Lumber that Jean met and eventually married her current husband, Carl Casey. Both Jean and Carl were avid bowlers at Orchard lanes in Hood River. Both of them usually bowled several leagues. Until Jean retired from bowling with a knee problem, she carried one of the highest female averages in the house.
Well, one Saturday night in 1984, Carl was getting ready to bowl Moonlight Monte Carlo with friends when Jean came in and asked the proprietor if she could bowl on the same lanes as Carl so she could meet him. Carl ended up asking Jean out and June 6, 1984, began the nearly 40-year love affair, as they did the hard work of blending two families into one. Carl and Jean married June 28, 1985, and purchased their home on Hays drive, where they live to the present. After the sale of Hanel Lumber, the family moved the road crew business down to the Neal Creek mill location, where Jean worked as office manager-secretary of Hanel Development Group for approximately 19 years until the decision was made to close the business.
Jean enjoyed visiting grandchildren as often as she could. She and Carl would travel to Southern California, Arizona, and New York City to see the grandchildren. Shortly after Jean retired, her daughter Azur (along with husband Garcia) moved back to Oregon to raise their two children. Grandma Jean was so delighted she traveled nearly weekly to spend time with her daughter’s kids. After Azur had her third child, Giovanna, Grandma Jean was eager to spend as much time as possible in Portland. Second to seeing grandkids, Jean loved her Starbucks Frappuccinos. She also enjoyed loving on and playing with puppies, and eating BBQ pork and lately, sweet and sour chicken at Grace Su’s China Gorge, where she lived for the hugs she would give to Grace and the entire staff. Jean REALLY loved giving hugs to nearly everyone she met. It was her passion and calling.
Unfortunately, in May 2021, Jean suffered a major heart attack that caused significant damage to her heart and caused increasing memory loss. Carl became her caregiver, chauffeuring her between doctor visits, rehab, and visitations with grandchildren, until her heart gave way, and she left our earthly home for her new home in Heaven with her Lord, Jesus.
Jean was preceded in death by both parents, as well as her brothers, Robert, and Bill. She is survived by her husband Carl; son John Swyers and wife Linda of Damascus, Ore.; son Ronald (Ronnie) Swyers and wife Tammie of Tigard, Ore.; daughter Azur Scott and husband Garcia of Portland; daughter Karaynn Franko and husband Dave of San Tan Valley, Ariz; and daughter Katherine (Kat) Huerta and husband Miguel of The Dalles, Ore. She leaves behind 11 grandchildren: Alex and husband Brandon, Kylie, Dietrich, Aria, Giovanna, Grace, James, Alice, Jackson, Abigail, and Michael; Jenni Wessels and husband Dean, Jefferey Pyles and wife Lori, Kristina Wood and husband Brian; great-grandchildren Megan, Austin, Gabriel, Aimee, Brady, Addison, and Alex; and many other extended family members.
Our hearts are broken that you have left us, and we miss you so! Yet we also know you now reside with Jesus along with family and friends who live there also. Rest in Peace till we meet once more! We will always love you!
Services to celebrate Jean’s life and mourn her passing are planned for 11 a.m., Friday, May 24 at Anderson's Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River. A reception will follow Jean’s service, and then a graveside committal at Idlewilde Cemetery of Hood River. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
To plant a tree in memory of Jean Casey as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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