Helen Katherine "Katie" Gossett Casey scrapbook

Helen Katherine “Katie” Gossett Casey, recognized as Katherine, was born in Brookston, Indiana, on October 22, 1904 as the youngest daughter of William and Nettie Gossett. Her father was a doctor and passed away when she was only twenty-three years old. She attended Brookston High School and graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1927 before teaching English and Latin at several Midwest schools. After marrying her husband Emil B. “Spike” Casey in 1937, the couple moved to Salem, Oregon in 1938, where Spike was a rancher.

During her time at DePauw, Katherine was a public speaking major and was heavily involved member of Kappa Delta sorority, formerly known as Eta Rho, which was chartered to DePauw’s campus in 1926. Casey participated in numerous campus activities and was a frequent guest at social events, including theater performances, friendly basketball competitions, fraternity dinners, and holiday parties.

After graduation in 1927, Casey began her teaching career in Longview, Illinois. She moved back to Indiana in 1931, teaching English and Latin at Remington High School, where she was also an assistant principal. In 1933, she taught at Monon High School, now known as North White.

Following her husband back to his hometown of Salem in 1938, where she spent the remainder of her life, Katherine spent her days indulging in fishing, camping, beach combing, rock hunting, gardening, and reading. At the age of 39, she and her husband experienced the premature birth and death of their baby in October 1943. They never tried for children again. Katherine was a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, a nonprofit Masonic organization. Katharine died on August 5, 1977, in Salem, Oregon, and is buried at Remington Cemetery in Remington, Indiana, alongside her husband, Emil.

Sources:

Helen Katherine Gossett Casey, Find a Grave, accessed November 11, 2024.

Helen Katherine “Katie” Gossett Casey scrapbook, 1923-1927, DePauw University Archives and Special Collections, Greencastle, Indiana.

Helen Katherine Gossett Casey Obituary, Statesman Journal, Sunday, August 7, 1977, 25, Newspapers.com.

Monticello Herald Journal, Monday, November 15, 1943, 5, Newspapers.com.

Monticello Herald Journal, Thursday, September 10, 1931, 8, Newspapers.com.

Monticello Herald Journal, Thursday, December 1, 1927, 7, Newspapers.com.

This biographical note was created by Asya Smith and Lauren Hicks as part of the HIST278: Women's History from 1890-Present course during the fall 2024 semester. It was revised by Professor Sarah Rowley and the Coordinator of Archives and Special Collections Bethany Fiechter.