Lynn McCasland

Obituary photo

Lynn Alan McCasland
29 Jun 1956 - 14 Jan 2021

Clubs & Associations

Quick Facts

In the early 1990s, Lynn was instrumental in the effort to remember lost dancers. His attempts helped give Freeman Stamper the inspiration to create the Memorial Panels.

Obituary

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Lynn McCasland (Dallas, Texas), born in Clovis, New Mexico, who passed away on January 14, 2021, at the age of 64, leaving to mourn family and friends. Family and friends can light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Lynn McCasland to show support.

He was predeceased by : his mother Aline McCasland; and his siblings, Jackie McCasland, Billy McCasland and Don McCasland. He is survived by : his close friends, Sam Lopez and Randy Richter (Mark Good); his nephews, Ellis McCasland of Lubbock, TX, Bud McCasland, Casey McCasland of Clovis, NM, Bret McCasland (Becky) of Amarillo, TX and Stacy McCasland (Lisa) of Wheeler, TX; his niece Niki Riddle (Jon) of Dimmitt, TX; his sisters-in-law, Carolyn McCasland of Lubbock, TX and JeTonne McCasland of Clovis, NM; and his friend Coast.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Turtle Creek Choral by calling: 214-526-3214 On-line: https: //turtlecreekchorale. secure. force. com/donate/?dfId=a0n50000007VFWGAA4.^[1]

Lynn Alan McCasland, age 64, passed away Thursday, January 14, 2021 after a long battle with liver disease. He was born June 29, 1956 in Clovis, New Mexico to the late Z and Aline (Rutherford) McCasland. After his high school graduation, he attended Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas before transferring to West Texas State University in Canyon, TX where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. He moved to Tucson, Arizona to begin his career in Psychiatric Nursing and later on to San Francisco, California where he lived for six years during the late 1980s and early 90s amid the HIV/AIDS crisis there. He left San Francisco and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be closer to his family. During his years in Albuquerque, he continued his work in psychiatric nursing and also worked as a Hospice Nurse. He also survived Lymphoma and the deaths of both parents.

In 1998, needing a new start, Lynn moved to Denver, Colorado. It was there that Lynn met Randy Richter. Randy lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was in Denver for a conference that Lynn also attended. Lynn moved to Minnesota in February of 2000 to be with Randy and they started the new Millennium together. Lynn worked at Park Nicollet Clinic under the supervision of Dr. Heidi Joos. Dr. Joos, impressed with Lynn’s work, encouraged him to pursue a Master’s Degree in Psychiatry and Nurse Practitioner certification. Lynn began research on where he could fulfill his dream of a Master’s degree and found the perfect program at the University of South Florida in Tampa. In September, 2003, he and Randy quit their jobs and moved to Tampa. He began classes in 2004 and in 2007 graduated with honors with a double major in psychiatry and gerontology. It was also in that time that Lynn was diagnosed with liver disease caused by a Hepatitis-B infection. Dealing with liver disease and the associated complications of it, set the stage for the remainder of Lynn’s life. Following graduation, Lynn found it difficult to find a suitable job in Florida. Working with a recruiter, he was offered a position with MetroCare in Dallas, TX. From a young age, growing up in eastern New Mexico, it was always Lynn’s dream to live in Dallas, he accepted the job and in 2010 he and Randy moved to Dallas, Texas and Lynn’s seemingly unattainable dream was complete. At MetroCare, Lynn did the challenging work of caring for homeless individuals with mental health issues. Lynn later found his dream job at UT Southwest Health System as a consult liaison in psychiatry. He worked at UT Southwest hospitals, consulting with physicians on patient care, evaluating patients, and was a member of the Transplant Services team, evaluating transplant candidates. He loved his work and was highly regarded in his field. Over the years, the stress and physical strain associated with his position forced Lynn to take disability and end his career, which was a very difficult decision. In 2015, Randy and Lynn separated as a couple but were able to maintain their friendship. Shortly after, Lynn met Sam Lopez who became Lynn’s roommate. They formed a deep friendship and Sam cared for Lynn in his final years.

Lynn’s love of music will be remembered by many. He was a member of several GALA Choruses (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses), he sang Tenor 1 as a member of: The New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus, Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, Una Voce (Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay) and Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas.

Lynn loved to cook, especially any recipe made with New Mexico Green Chilies. He cherished a few pieces of cookware left to him by his mother and many of her recipes that he had enjoyed as a child, but was also frustrated that he could never make biscuits as good as his mom’s.

He is preceded in death by his parents Z and Aline McCasland; infant sister Jackie McCasland and his brothers: Billy McCasland and Don McCasland.

He is survived by his dear friend and companion Sam Lopez; former partner and special friend Randy Richter and his partner Mark Good; Nephews: Ellis McCasland of Lubbock, TX, Bud McCasland and Casey McCasland of Clovis, NM, Bret McCasland and wife Becky of Amarillo, TX, and Stacy McCasland and wife Lisa of Wheeler, TX; Niece Niki Riddle and husband Jon of Dimmitt, TX; sisters-in-law: Carolyn McCasland of Lubbock, TX and JeTonne McCasland of Clovis, NM; as well as a numerous great-nieces and nephews and a host of friends from Coast to Coast. He will be missed and remembered fondly by all who knew and loved him.

A Celebration of Life will occur at a later date.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Turtle Creek Choral by calling: 214-526-3214

On-line: https://turtlecreekchorale.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n50000007VFWGAA4

By mail: Turtle Creek Chorale, 3630 Harry Hines Blvd, Suite 306 Dallas, TX 75219^[2]

Remembrances

Mark, Sam and I drove to Clovis, NM on Friday to bring our friend Lynn McCasland home to his final resting place. His nephew, Bret McCasland led us and Lynn's family in a warm and meaningful service at the cemetery on Saturday. At his request, Lynn's cremains are now resting next to his parents, Z and Aline McCasland. Our thanks to Bret for leading the service, to his nephew, Ellis McCasland for leading us in prayer, and to Jeremy Lewis and Green Funeral home for handling preparations here in Dallas. It was a bittersweet day as we gathered after the service to reminisce and honor Lynn's memory at the home of his sister-in-law, JeTonne McCasland.

I read this poem by Merrit Malloy to conclude the service.

Epitaph

When I die
Give what's left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.

And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them what you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.

Look for me
In the people I've known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live on in your eyes
And not your mind.

You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands
By letting
Bodies touch bodies
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.

Love doesn't die,
People do.
So, when all that's left of me
Is love,
Give me away.
— Randy Richter, Lynn's ex-partner, 13 Mar 2021

Lynn and I became friends through The Wilde Bunch after he moved from San Francisco to Albuquerque. He had danced in the bay area for some time and wanted to continue on, since he found out how many friends he could make through the activity.

Sometime in the 1990s, Lynn bought a house just a couple blocks from me. A small group of friends (Len Cazares, Craig Novak, Stanley Hadsell, Deian McBride and a few others, all square dancers) started weekly gatherings at his place to watch X Files, or to have layabouts where we would just chat and snack. It was always pleasant times, and our little group of friends bonded easily and comfortably. He told me or us lots of tales of growing up in extremely rural ranching country in West Texas.

Lynn was always enthusiastic about square dancing and participated in all the club activities that he was able to. He had a career as a nurse--most of the time I knew him, he was a hospice nurse and actually brought a few coworkers into the square dance fold. He had a ready laugh, and a generally slow friendly drawl kind of West Texas way about him.

At some point, in the early 1990’s, he started getting symptomatic with HIV issues, which started plaguing him a lot. He was admitted to the hospital for a variety of illnesses, and each one seemed to get worse and worse, so that our group of friends would have vigils with him. Yet, in time, he always seemed to bounce back with a vengeance--he did NOT want to go. At one point though, he decided to have a Big Going Away Party, since he thought his time was very limited. My house was very large, so he asked if he could have his party there--he invited over 40 of his friends and had a wonderful evening of it. Unfortunately, that was a specific weekend that I was calling out of town and couldn't be at a party at my own house! The party was a bit premature; he lasted another 27 years or so.

Lynn's warm welcoming style drew a lot of people in, but after his illnesses, he got the wanderlust again. He moved around a LOT, either due to being antsy, or job-related, or looking for additional schooling. In the intervening years, he left Albuquerque, moving on for periods of time to Denver, Minneapolis, south Florida, Dallas area, Palm Springs, then finally back to Dallas area. Over that time, he sang with various gay choruses, and danced with the gay groups as he was able. In every house he bought, he did a remodel of it to suit him--they were always beautiful afterwards. He continued to pursue aspects of his nursing career until he was no longer able to. He had a long relationship with Randy Richter, who was also a chorus singer and joined him in square dancing for a long while.
— Bill Eyler, 20 Apr 2021

Photos

At Northstar Promenade, 1990
A letter written by Lynn requesting information to remember lost dancers. Aug 1991
At U-turn Back to Huajatolla, Oct 1992
Obituary photo
With his dog
At his graduation