Julie Casey

Julie Johnson Casey passed away on February 10, 2022. We lost one of the good ones. Julie was a reader, gardener, teacher, businesswoman, mother, grandmother, survivor, mentor, friend, cook, and world-class talker. She was a lover of all things good and beautiful.

Julie Anne Johnson was born in 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Robert and Jeannette Johnson. The Johnsons moved to Borger in 1952 and founded Bob Johnson Motor Company in 1954. Julie was a loving sister to Terri, Nita, Marnie, and Roy Johnson.

After graduating Borger High School in 1967, Julie traveled the globe during a semester at sea. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Education in 1971. She earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Development at the University of Texas in 1975.

While in Austin Julie met and married Larry Paul Harris. They had three children: Mazie McKenna, Kate Farrier, and Paul Robert Harris. Following moves to Chicago and Galax, Virginia, they returned to Borger to raise their family in Meadowlark.

After separating from Larry Harris, Julie married Larry Casey. Yes, another Larry! We all have our preferences. They married in 1985 and he treated Julie’s three kids as his own, just as she embraced Larry’s children, Elaine Michelle and Michael Gene Casey.

Inspired by her father’s business acumen and civic mindedness, Julie took over management of Bob Johnson Motor Company, becoming—at the time—one of the few women to own and operate a car dealership in Texas. After managing the motor company for over a decade, she returned to her true passion: education. She taught English literature at Borger High School until her retirement in 2018, sharing her love of reading and learning with students. She was a mentor and trusted colleague to her fellow teachers. She was born to care for and teach young people. It brought her so much joy.

Julie was a source of encouragement and acceptance to many. She committed her time to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and found much peace in worshiping there. With the help of her family, friends, and the Borger community, she took adversities in stride. She took pleasure in maintaining beautiful gardens and friendships throughout her life. She found joy in the adventures and accomplishments of her ten grandchildren: Taylor, Will, Cole, Mikayla, Mason, Cal, Noe, Nora, Maggie, and Henry.

In a 2015 Borger High teacher-of-the-week profile, Julie shared words that remind us that she gave love as much as she was loved: “There are so many people who have enriched my life. I feel blessed to have been touched by so many in the different paths I have walked through the years.” Julie’s memorial will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Friends of the Hutchinson County Library or the Amarillo Botanical Gardens.

A Celebration of Julie’s Life will be 11:00 a.m Saturday April 23 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with a reception at Neumann and Company on Main St at 12:30.

Cremation was under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger.