Casey Pace

Casey C. Pace

Brandon

Casey Culpeper Pace, age 68, died Sunday, February 15, 2015 at his home in Brandon due to complications of lung cancer.Visitation will be Saturday, February 21 from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm at Ott & Lee Funeral Home, 1360 West Government Street (Highway 80 E), in Brandon. A memorial service will follow in the chapel.

Casey was born on July 19, 1946, in Washington, D.C., where his father was Administrative Assistant to Senator James O. Eastland. He was the son of the late, Courtney C. and Charlotte W. Pace. He grew up in Arlington, VA and was a graduate of St. Stephen's School in Alexandria, VA.He attended the University of Virginia and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1972. He was a member of the Mississippi Bar Association.

Moving to Jackson after graduation, Casey served as an Assistant Director at the Mississippi Research and Development Center until 1984.He worked as a financial broker before becoming Director of the Mississippi Legislative Reference Bureau at the State Capitol, where he served from 1990 until his retirement in 2011.

Casey was an avid reader and sports fan.He was active in local youth soccer programs for twenty years, beginning as a coach for his children's teams.He formed the first girls' soccer team at Murrah High School and continued his love and passion for the sport, coaching recreational and select teams.He helped initiate the girls' soccer program at Simpson Academy and was a coach for girls' soccer at Florence High School for several years. He will be lovingly remembered as "Coach Pace" by so many young players and their families whose lives he touched in such positive ways.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger daughter, Charlotte Murray Pace.He is survived by his wife, Mary Martha,;his daughter, Dr. Margaret "Sam" Pace of Houston, TX and his son, John Pace and his wife, Susan and his grandchildren, Eli and Penny of Madison, MS. He is also survived by Ann Rodgers Pace, his first wife and devoted mother of his children. Additionally,Casey is survived by Mary Martha's sons and their families, Sean and April Michaels and their children, Noah, Anna and Aidan of Cary, N.C., Christopher Michaels of Dallas, TX and Patrick and Gretta Michaels and their daughter, Ellie, of Baton Rouge, LA.

The Pace family wishes to thank Dr. Guangzhi Qu and the staff of Jackson Oncology Associates at St. Dominic Hospital, Dr. Scott Layne, Chris Funkhouser,CNP, and the staff of Sta Home Hospice for their support and care during his illness.

According to his wishes, Casey's body was donated to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for medical research.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the LSU Foundation noting the Charlotte Murray Pace Scholarship, 3838 West Lakeshore Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808, or to The Charlotte Murray Pace Memorial Scholarship, Millsaps College, P.O. Box 151191, Jackson, MS 39210, or to the charity of your choice.

You may share condolences with the family at www.ottandleefuneralhome.com