Casey Dean Copeland, 44, of Austin, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on August 23, 2021.  His family id deeply saddened by his passing.  Case was born on October 23, 1975 to Carilu Bell and Dean Copeland (deceased) at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin.  Casey is survived by his "momma", Carilu, stepfather David Bell, and stepfather Mike Witte, who helped raise him.  He is also survived by his sister, Caroline Ziegmann (husband David Ziegmann), younger brother, Marshall Witte and his two nieces whom he adored, Presley Grace Ziegmann and Adeline Marie Ziegmann.  Casey is also  survived by his devoted and loving grandmother, Betty Hendricks, who he loved dearly and was very close to, and his grandfather, Kenneth Decker.

Casey Dean grew up at Lake Travis attended Lake Travis Elementary, Junior High and High School.  He chose to move to Westlake for his Junior and Senior years, where he graduated.  He love playing football in school and was nominated Mr. Personality one year.  In elementary school, he was in the Gifted and Talented program, and was loved by all of his teachers and coaches.  After graduating from high school, he took classes at ACC, then graduating  from Texas State University in San Marcos with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports and a Major in Health and Fitness Management.  Casey started bartending to help pay for college expenses and continued bartending throughout his life.  He was a Certified Fitness Trainer and helped many who wanted to improve their health and physiques.  After Covid hit, Casey left the service industry and began a new career as a Sales & Marketing Rep with Premier Surveying.  It didn't take him long to establish clientele and he quickly gained their trust and business.  He loved his new job and looked forward to his new career with ambition and excitement.  Casey was always working out, riding his bike along the Austin trails downtown, running, boating or wake boarding on Lake Travis and he often played basketball with the same group of guys, dating back many years.  A life long friend says, "He rode the wakes fearlessly and not without a backwards hat on."  His love of wake boarding and growing up on Lake Travis led him t start his entrepreneurial endeavor, WakeLike Lake Gear.  Using his incredible creative talent, he designed shirts and caps and could not produce them fast enough.  Everyone wanted his WakeLife products.  He had a huge vision for WakeLife brand but Covid brought it to a standstill.  Not one to just sit around, he used this time to begin his latest passion by learning to surf.  His contagious personality led him to making many new friends in the surfing community at Surfside, Texas.  He finally caught his first wave the Saturday before his passing.  Casey was well known in and around Lake Travis, not only because he grew up there but also, he worked at many of the restaurants and bars in the area.  Customer couldn't  help but fall in love him.  Described by a few of his friends, he was "always with a smile, living life to it's fullest" and "spread love, unity and joy anywhere he went."  "He touched a lot of lives, drove some people crazy, and made people love him."  He was such a loving guy and wasn't afraid to show it.  One friend says, "His bear hugs could incite world peace."  He had an immense passion for Texas Longhorn's Football, Baseball and Basketball (some say he was born with orange blood).  Working out at the gym and running were amongst his most devoted hobbies.  On his 40th birthday, he even ran 40 miles from south Austin to his sister's home in North Austin.  When he came to the Pennybacker Bridge, spanning Lake Austin, he decided to swim across to cool off and continued with his run.  Casey loved his friends and genuinely cherished music, from Pearl Jam to Kenny Chesney.  One of his biggest joys was sharing this with his family who he enjoyed taking to concerts.  He was no stranger to getting the party started.  If no one was on the dance floor, he would pull his mom out to two-step.  He didn't embarrass easily and was often the center of attention.  He adored and love his dogs, Pearl and Malia, but most of all Casey love his family.  His mom, grandmother, grandfather, stepdads, brother, sister and nieces will miss him more than words can say and will be forever touched by the outpouring of love from family and friends.

Casey's momma, Carilu, describes Casey best as her "orange blooded-lake loving-country music loving-wake board loving-fun-charming-charismatic-smart-handsome son."  She is heartbroken beyond repair at the loss of her first born, "The very first true love of my life."

A friend of Casey's wrote, "He was forever telling  you how amazing you are" and the family would like to use these words that were also posted from this friend, "In his memory...can we all please take today to tell someone how amazing they are to us?  That's how he lived his life every day.  Making people believe in themselves.  Don't wait..."

The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, August 31st from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home located at 411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, TX 78734.  The family requests that everyone wear a mask to protect loved ones.  

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date at Emerals Point, the old Carlos & Charlie's.  The Surfside community of surfers are planning a Paddle Out in his memory as well.  Dates and time will be posted soon.

Per Casey's Facebook Profile:  "Texas born...Texas bred.  When I die, I'll be Texas dead."

We love you, Bubba.

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