Birth date: Jan 20, 1988 Death date: Sep 7, 2015
Casey Ryan Campana, age 27, of Antioch, TN passed away Monday, September 7, 2015. He was born January 20, 1988 in Jacksonville, FL and was an avid outdoorsman. Casey served his country in the United States Marine Cops and was Vale Read Obituary
This is a msg from Casey's Kennewick REI team: We are all completely heartbroken to hear of Casey's passing. We're a small store and very tight knit so once an employee, you're family. RestInPrace dear one; you will forever be in our minds and hearts. We send our condolences to his family and close loved ones. Please give Maggie extra loves from us too.
Casey and I worked together at REI in Brentwood. He was an amazing person to get to know. Let's just say we shared a common irreverence for the way things usually went. When Casey was at the store, it was going to be a good shift. He could help customers with ease but where he really shined was making sure his co-workers were enjoying their time at work. And that can be so much more important than so many other things that people focus on. I don't know how many times he feigned a punch and then kicked me in the knee after I blocked the punch. I regret that I wasn't in touch more after he moved to Washington. But Casey's personality touched me and everyone that knew him and that will never be lost.
For Casey:
To fight aloud is, very brave
Emily Dickinson
To fight aloud, is very brave-
But gallanter, I know
Who charge within the bosom
The Cavalry of Woe-
Who win, and nations do not see-
Who fall-and none observe-
Whose dying eyes, no Country
Regards with patriot love-
We trust, in plumed procession
For such, the Angels go-
Rank after Rank, with even feet-
And Uniforms of Snow.
I am profoundly comforted reading all the funny and heartwarming stories about my son. They have brought me immense comfort.
I first met Casey at the climbing gym in 2011. He liked to tell people I picked him up on the bouldering wall with a one-liner like, “You come here often?” It’s not that far off from the truth! We started climbing regularly, indoor and outdoor, and quickly developed a strong “bromance”. The majority of our time together was spent climbing or at one of Nashville’s many two-for-one locals. I don’t even like beer, but I liked hanging out with Casey. The last time I saw him was actually at Mafioza’s. We split a two-for-one Crispin.
Casey was an encouraging friend through some tumultuous struggles I had winning over my in-laws. I don’t know how many of those beers and climbs actually were therapy sessions for me. I loved the guy like a brother. I remember how excited he was when I asked him to be a groomsman in my wedding. That memory was confirmed this week as my other groomsmen told me stories about how genuinely and emotionally invested he was on that day. I remember he ran out and picked up Local Taco for all the guys to eat, and even crammed his ironing board into his car so he could touch up all of our clothes prior to the ceremony. A picture of Casey ironing is one of my favorites from the wedding. My wife holds on to a member of Casey standing behind me in the ceremony crying as we exchanged our vows. That is the Casey we remember. That was my friend.
I was saddened when he moved away a year ago, and elated when he called to tell me he had returned to Nashville. We spent two different occasions catching up when he got back, and two more phone calls before he passed. I don’t think words can capture how much I miss my friend. I so desperately wish I could speak with him one more time. I wish we had shared as deep of a spiritual bond as we did recreational and relational. I wish he had let me help him. My soul is raging against the dying of his light.
I recall Casey telling me about a paper he wrote on spiritual imagery in Amos Lee’s music. I believe the focus of the paper was on the “Mission Bell” album. Amos Lee writes a great deal about love and loss, so it seems fitting to share the first stanza from the opening song on the album, “El Camino”:
Well all my friends treated me so well
You know I'm headed out to that Mission Bell
Gonna wash my soul, gonna get it clean
Heading down the border road called the El Camino
I met Casey while working for canyon river ranch. We quickly became buddies. I believe his everyday goal was to sneak up on me and scare the crap outta me. He succeeded most of the time, but every now and then I would catch him out the corner of my eye. When we weren't working I'd always see him at our favorite bar and would play pool ( he let me win once, and only once) and have a beer. I'll miss ya Brosef! Until we met again good sir!
Casey was one of my former students. Our whole department is shocked and saddened to hear of his loss--he was just here visiting us last week, discussing plans for graduate school. I wanted to express my condolences to his family and friends. You are all in my prayers.
Shanna Ray
Professor and Chair,
Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Science
Lipscomb University
