(From Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home)Casey Jack Campbell left this world suddenly on Thanksgiving evening, November 25, 2021.
Casey was born to Darrel & Pamela Campbell on December 22, 1986, in Van Nuys, California. With both parents working in the film and television industry, Casey began his exciting life growing up in a Hollywood studio office where his mother was assistant to the head writers and his father was a dialogue writer on Days of Our lives. Casey went from the crib to the stage when he was cast as Baby Jack Deveraux in the daytime drama on NBC.
Casey gave his heart to the Lord at the early age of six years old and was baptized by Dr. Jess Moody at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Northridge, California. This spiritual moment patterned the rest of his life.
Since Casey was old enough to hold a tiny bat, baseball was his main passion. From age five through high school, he excelled in the sport. His grandfather, Jack Campbell, his father, and his mother (a college softball player) taught Casey to pitch and hit.
When his family moved from California to Missouri, Casey played baseball for teams in Carl Junction and Joplin, Missouri. When the family moved to Mount Vernon, Missouri, Casey played football, basketball, and baseball where he excelled as a pitcher and shortstop. He was a 2005 graduate of Mount Vernon High School.
Casey enjoyed going to professional baseball games, no matter who was playing. He was fortunate to meet Ozzie Smith and also witness at least two historic games. As a child in L.A. he attended nearly every St. Louis Cardinals game played in Dodger stadium and on June 29, 1990, he watched Fernando Valenzuela pitch a no-hitter against his beloved Cardinals. While in Texas, he witnessed a first of its kind. If you look close on ESPN video, you can find Casey and his brother Brock in the outfield stands the night Bill Mueller hit grand slams from each side of the plate!
Casey enjoyed going to professional baseball games, no matter who was playing. He was fortunate to meet Ozzie Smith and also witness at least two historic games. As a child in L.A. he attended nearly every St. Louis Cardinals game played in Dodger stadium and on June 29, 1990, he watched Fernando Valenzuela pitch a no-hitter against his beloved Cardinals. While in Texas, he witnessed a first of its kind. If you look close on ESPN video, you can find Casey and his brother Brock in the outfield stands the night Bill Mueller hit grand slams from each side of the plate!
After his freshman year in college, Casey began focusing his life toward officiating and quickly rose to the ranks of collegiate baseball. Casey was a young man who was dedicated to justice and fairness, and he wanted to bring those two important traits to every game he officiated.
After attending professional umpire school in Florida, Casey was hired to officiate the Northwoods Baseball League, a league designed to develop college athletes from around the world. Casey umpired games in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, as well as Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and his birth state of California.
Casey was also a champion for the underdog. He spent hundreds of hours on the telephone answering questions from new officials, encouraging them, and keeping them motivated to be better.
Casey was also a champion for the underdog. He spent hundreds of hours on the telephone answering questions from new officials, encouraging them, and keeping them motivated to be better.
He enjoyed working umpire camps where he instructed officials and helped them to climb the ladder of success. Casey was a proud member of MSHSAA, MAU and SMBOA. He enjoyed officiating both baseball and basketball. Last season, Casey was selected and honored to umpire the Missouri State High School Baseball Final Four.
Throughout his life, the entertainment industry remained his favorite interest outside of baseball. Casey enjoyed going back to Hollywood where his colorful life began. One of his favorite memories was visiting his father’s old office at Walt Disney Studios and becoming friends and a ping-pong adversary of Dan Povenmire, co-creator of the cartoon, Phineas and Ferb.
When Casey wasn’t officiating sports or traveling, he enjoyed working with his parent’s video and film company, Percussion Films. Casey took a few days away from officiating to act in the feature film, LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE. He also worked as a videographer and enjoyed flying the company drone.
Casey loved life and lived it to his fullest. In his spare time, he loved to fish, train his dog Max, watch movies, and play golf.
If asked, Casey would boldly claim that reading the Bible saved his life. He enjoyed discussing Bible based stories, the life of Jesus, and theology. In a world of negativity, Casey brought his Christian character traits of love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to his personal life and his professional career.
Family was a top priority as well. He honored and loved his mother and father all his life. Casey is survived by a broken-hearted family he has left behind: paternal grandmother Josephine “Jo” Campbell, maternal grandparents Rev. Lewis Rogers and Mabel Rogers. He was a devoted big brother to Brock Campbell, Adelie Cox (Campbell), and Brett Campbell. He was also the loving brother-in-law to Sarah Campbell (Hornback) and Kellen Cox. He was also loved by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Recently, Casey found great joy being an uncle to Lawson Cox and Jack Campbell. He was “Uncle Ace” to his nephews, and he enjoyed having his dog Max perform tricks for the boys. He was also eager to meet his new baby niece, Harlow Cox.
Casey Campbell was born a dreamer. He envisioned a better world where people of all backgrounds were respected and loved each other. Casey was also an innovator. He dreamed up inventions to protect young baseball players and officials from needless injuries. He encouraged coaches to respect the rules of the game as well as the men in blue who made competition possible. He was determined to do what he could to make the world a better place.
The funeral and life celebration to honor this amazing friend and loved one will be held Sunday, December 5, 2021, at First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be at 2:00 p.m. with the celebration service following at 3:00 p.m. The arrangements will be provided by Fossett-Mosher Funeral home in Mount Vernon, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Casey’s name in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.
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