Mark Wayne Casey, 61, of Eldon, Missouri died January 5, 2024.

He was born April 11, 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas to Wayne Casey and Barbara Dean Casey. Mark was ordained into the ministry of the Freewill Baptist in 1981 and at the age of 19, pastored his first church at Weaver's Chapel Freewill Baptist in Batesville, AR.  Since that time, he pastored at the Pea Ridge Freewill Baptist church, he was the associate pastor at the Rogers Freewill Baptist Church, he pastored at Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church and the Cave City Freewill Baptist Church.  He was also the associate pastor at Calvary Chapel in the Ozarks in Rogers, AR.  He taught God's Word in many churches throughout Arkansas and Missouri during his ministry.

On November 9, 2015, Mark Wayne Casey became a member of the "General Society of Mayflower Descendants, founded 12 January 1897 to perpetuate the memory of the Pilgrims, to maintain and defend their principles of civil and religious liberty, and to honor their unfailing strength, undying courage, and abiding faith, to which they committed their lives."

Mark refused to get attached to the family pets (dogs) because he didn't want to get hurt if something happened to them.  About five years ago he started visiting Parrot stores and began considering getting a bird.  In July 2020, Mark and Teresa decided to get a Cockatiel for their 40th anniversary.  That bird won Mark's heart within a few days, and it wasn't log until he became Rocky's "daddy".  A year later, while visiting the parrot shop, Mark fell in love with a Sun-Conure so Sonny joined the family. In 2022 Mark and Teresa re-homed an African Grey and within three days, Ash had bonded to Mark so he became his bird (since that breed only bonds to one person).  Mark never dreamed that he would fall hopelessly in love with those three birds.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Delena Roughton.

Survivors are his wife, Teresa Casey; three children, Valerie Casey of Kansas City, Mo., Heather Crosby (Jesse) of Centerton, Ar., Dia Nelson (Brett) of Eldon, Mo., three grandchildren, Ella Crosby, Levi Crosby and Oliver Nelson.

Celebration of Life service is set for 10:00 a.m. January 27, 2024 at Pea Ridge Freewill Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Twelve Corners Cemetery.