Casey Jay Williams

Casey Jay Williams, born 14 April 1992 in at the University of Utah Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah to Jay B. Williams and Trenie Lyn Latimer. His earthly journey ended 12 March 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are grateful that Casey is finally at peace and can leave the struggles of this world behind. 

Casey was anxious to come into the world and surprised everyone when he arrived earlier than expected. There were many challenges he encountered throughout his early life, but he found ways to work through them.

He would sit for hours playing with his transformers and other action toys. He was very creative and would tell us great big stories about them. 

He loved to draw so his Grandpa Jim gave him a nickname “Pierre de Artist”.  This always made Casey smile and made him feel like he truly was an artist. Another nickname his Grandpa Jim gave him was “Rooster” or “Casey RooRoo“ because his hair stuck up in the back. Casey and Trevor lovingly called their Grandpa Jim "Pa".

When he was in elementary school his favorite thing to do was to come home and have “Pa’ fix him hot chocolate and cinnamon sugar toast. The toast had lots of butter and there was always WAY more sugar than cinnamon.

Casey was baptized when he was 8 years old into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved going to Primary and being in the Cub Scout program. The teachers really enjoyed Casey and would tell us how hard he worked on his projects. They always said how kind he was and often going out of his way to help others. 

Casey loved holidays and being with his family. Christmas and birthdays were so exciting to him, and he couldn’t wait to open his gifts. When he started earning his own money, he would make sure he picked out a special present for everyone. He looked forward to Easter and we had to make sure he had a great big chocolate Easter bunny in his basket. He loved all the candy, but the chocolate Easter bunny was the most important thing to him. He talked about that chocolate bunny for weeks before Easter.

Casey and his big brother Trevor were very close in their younger years and did many things together. They loved to go swimming at the hot springs in Heber, and city pools, playing in the park on the slides and jungle gym; riding their bikes through the neighborhood and sneaking to the store to buy chips and a drink. One time they took turns burying each other in the sand at starvation reservoir.

When they went out to play the two boys came back so stinky and dirty but had the time of their life.  They took a karate class together and were so proud of their karate suits. For months everywhere Casey went he practiced his kicks and punches. He loved to dress up as his favorite action figure hero and loved wearing silly hats.

Trevor spent many hours working with Casey before he started playing T-Ball and soccer. They would play catch and Trev would show Casey how to hold the bat so he could hit the ball. So much time was spent in the driveway working with Casey so he could block and kick the soccer ball.

They had each other’s back, especially if anyone was mean or tried to hurt Casey, Trevor would send them on their way. Casey did not fear anything when he was with his older brother.

A story we heard was that Casey and Trevor picked lots of different vegetables from Grandma Catherine’s Garden and decided to make vegetable soup. Their mom Trenie said she didn’t believe they would eat it, but they were so proud of themselves they both had a big bowl full. This was such a surprise as Casey was always such a picky eater. He had to smell his food and if it didn’t smell right, there was no way you could make him eat it.

Casey received his high school diploma through Alliance House and could not wait to wear the graduation gown and hat. He was asked to speak at his graduation ceremony which made him both nervous and excited. His entire family was there, and this delighted Casey. The graduation ceremony took place at the Masonic Temple in Salt Lake City which was a wonderful experience for him.

He enjoyed nature and the out of doors. As he got a little older, he loved snowboarding with his dad who skied alongside him. They loved those winter sports. 

Casey and his dad enjoyed boating, fishing, and hunting and other family members joined in for the fun. He loved to help with the cooking at the camp site. He especially loved roasting the marshmallows and smashing them on a graham cracker with lots of chocolate in between. He loved to get the chocolate and marshmallows all over his face and hands and would say “I’m not messy.”

Casey was fairly accurate with the Bow when hunting, and engaged in a toss of the coin with his cousin to see who got the single or the double cots. They had a lot of fun together!

He helped his dad, siblings and a cousin build a chicken coop for his Grandma Catherine for Mother’s Day and then Casey, his younger brother Zayden, younger sister London and cousin Gabriel all picked out special chicks for the new coop. Casey's chicken turned out to be a rooster, no doubt the biggest rooster with the biggest feet ever. Grandma had to re-home that Roo at a new farm because he also was a loud one, but she loved their gift.

One of Casey's happiest times was when he attended Alliance House where he was learning to be a sous-chef. He also worked with his dad Jay as a grocery merchandiser and gained experience at a law firm downtown doing odd jobs around their office.

Casey is one of the kindest individuals and always befriended the underdog. He is generous and shared everything he owned with those less fortunate than himself. He never made fun of people who were different and always had a kind word to say to others. He has the cutest smile that will warm your heart on any occasion.

He was preceded in death by his mom Trenie, who he has missed so much, and his Grandpa Jim Latimer. Grandpa Jim and Casey had a club named the “Pudberry Club”. Casey was called Captain Pudberry. They would turn their hats sideways and give a special salute to each other laughing out loud as they thought now one knew what secret hand combinations they used. 

He is survived by a sister Alexia Jahn, his older brother Trevor Peterson, who he grew up with, his dad, Jay Williams and a younger brother Zayden and younger sister London, his Grandparents Debbie Latimer, Catherine Hampshire, and Jay Bartlett Williams Sr. 

In Isaiah 40:31 we read “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."  

This is what we believe Casey is doing – soaring on wings like the eagles with God and in His loving care.

Casey will be interred in the Sale Lake City Cemetery next to his mother Trenie who he has missed so much the past 10 years. Trenie and Casey were the bestest of friends as he was growing up. She loved him unconditionally and worried so much about leaving him. She now has him in her arms for all eternity never to part again.  We all will miss our sweet Casey “and look forward to the time we will be united with him”.

There will be no funeral services. The family will get together to celebrate Casey’s life in the Spring or early Summer.