Casey O. "Sky Dancer" Braley

Casey was the first and possibly the truest best friend I ever had. He and I were born about three months apart and our families lived about a block and a half from each other in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. Casey and I were in First Grade together at Our Lady of Fatima. We made our First Communion together. We played on the same Little League baseball team together. And in between, we spent hours together studying Beatles albums and getting blisters on our fingers teaching ourselves to play guitar. A skill that Casey quickly mastered and one I´m still working on. In the summer of 1969, my family moved to Mercer Island. Which, in the mind of a ten year old boy, meant that I would never again see my friend Casey. But just five years later, we were reunited in the halls of Seattle Prep - where for the next four years Casey, myself and my three brothers we all back together, just as we had been in grade school. Casey and I not only took classes together, we also played on the baseball team together, explored the quantum physics of high school girls together, skipped classes together, discovered beer together and even crashed a car or two, together. In 1977, after graduating together, Casey and I went our separate ways, neither of us realizing how permanent the change would be, this time. We connected with increasing rarity through college until, as our lives and directions diverged, we lost contact completely. I don´t remember the last time Casey and I talked. But I do remember every time we laughed. I remember marveling at what a natural Casey was on the baseball field - how a ground ball seemed to get sucked into his glove and how fluidly he threw to first. I remember his quit wit, his crooked smile and his contagious laugh. And I remember, on one occasion, during a test neither of us had studied for, looking up from my blank answer sheet to see Casey staring out the window and smiling. "Case, what are you doing?" I whispered. "It´s times like these," he said, never taking his eyes from the window, "I wish I were a bird." It makes me smile to know that Casey got his wish, eventually soaring through the skies in ways that most humans never do, reaching heights that few of us ever will. I only wish I had known him longer and had been there to see it.

Fly on, Casey. Your friend, Tommy DiJulio

Casey and I were on the Dick Butkus band wagon,
Great Memories

It's hard to belive you are gone!
We had some fun times laughing, goofing off, making up silly names for bands! We would laugh until we cried! Good memories I will cherish! Gone way too soon RIP Casey!

I got to know while working at Boeing. He was always so kind and had a great sense of humor condolences to his family.

Casey will be missed by everyone he touched. Love you Casey. Laren

I haven´t seen Casey since we graduated from Prep some 48 years ago, but memories of his carefree approach and Joie de vivre, even as a crazy high school friend, come rushing back. Til we meet again Casey - I´m glad I knew you even if for just awhile. I´m better for having known you. Kevin Lovejoy

Rest in peace Casey, from a long lost friend.

Casey was a super guy ! His Spirit will be Back . TY for all brother

I worked with Casey for many of years he was a great guy and had a great since of hummer. He took me flying a few times, and was one of the best piolets that I have ever flown with.

So sorry to hear of this, i´m a decades long boeing coworker of Casey´s, and guitar playing buddy way back in the 90´s, and had the privilege of him buzzing our house in his Pitts special, but we lost track of each other.