Alvie Byron Cason, known by all who knew him as "Toby", was born in Dallas TX, on October 28,1938, to Amos and Juanita Cason. He was raised in the small towns of Desoto and Lancaster, which are just a few miles south of Dallas. While still a baby, his mother divorced Amos and married Clarence Smith, who later would build and operated a roller skating rink in Lancaster. Toby spent much of his youth with his grand parents, Mama and Daddy Hill. Daddy Hill was a real cowboy and ran cattle on horseback from Desoto to the Fort Worth Stockyard Auctions to make a living. Mama Hill held down the wood slat shack, washed the clothes and had a hot meal ready when they got home. They were Toby's inspiration for hard work and a devoted marriage. He saw in them the sacrifices it takes to make life work without much money.
In 1956, Toby enlisted in the Navy at the age of 18 and served 2 years on board the USS Saratoga Air Craft Carrier. There he learned discipline and respect for authority. With an honorable discharge in 1958, he returned to Lancaster where his sister Connie introduced him to her best friend Janiece McVey. They soon fell in love, got married a year later and settled down in Lancaster, Texas. His mother and step-father built the Shamrock Skating rink and hired them to manage it in the evenings. He also went to work for the Dallas electrical union. Working the Electrical Union full time during the day, the skating rink in the evenings and at a full-service gas station on weekends, he did what it took to provide for his new family. They both loved to skate couples dance, and went on to skate local competitions.
In 1960 their first child was born, Kimberly. Two years later they had their second child Pamela, three years after Pam, in 1965, they had their third child Douglas, and then they thought: "OK 3 is enough!" He continued in the Electrical Union for 11 years. Toby and Janiece raised their 3 kids in Lancaster until they divorced in 1976. From '76 to '82 he owned and operated several businesses including a roller-skating rink, an appliance store, and a laundry mat in San Angelo TX. The Skating Rink became his ministry ground for the youth. With posters on the walls, he shared God's goodness and scriptures. He gave away over 300 Christian tracks every weekend to the kids attending Friday and Saturday night sessions. In 1982, the oil industry in San Angelo went down and with it 162 businesses filed bankruptcy. He sold his businesses for what he could get for them, returned to Lancaster, and went back into the electrical trade wiring houses for open shops.
After retiring in 1998, at the age of 60, he got back together with Janiece. They remarried in 2000 and relocated to Cedar Creek Lake, TX, to be closer to their kids and grandkids, who had settled there a few years earlier. In 2016 they moved to Tulsa, where they joined their son's family and became members at Victory Christian.
Their 3 kids grew up and had kids...... who grew up...and had more kids.
Toby passed away on November 13th 2020, leaving: his wife, Janiece Cason, daughter Kimberly Cason Grimes, daughter Pamela Cason Fennell, and son Douglas Byron. Cason; ten grandkids, oldest to youngest, Melissa Grimes Jones, Chelsea Wilson Hoang, Natasha Sampson, Jake Hunter, Tiffany Wilson, Nathaniel Cason, Dillan Davis, Lindsey Cason Dennis, Karina Davis, and Jessica Cason.
Also, 15 great grand kids, oldest to youngest: Katie, Cody Grimes, TJ, Cody Sampson, Madison, MacKinley, Brock, Preston, Carson, Maddox, Emeri, Hennley, Oliver, Killian, and baby Jethro.
Toby lived his life calm, cool and collective. He loved the Lord, and when he studied his Bible, he could be seen reading only the Red Letter portions because as he would tell you: "Those are the words of Jesus, so they must be the most important." And he loved his family, and was always there to do what he could to support them. He was kind hearted toward everyone he met, and always tried to leave them with a smile.
He gave his money and his possessions to the poor and less fortunate on a regular basis throughout his life. In fact, he was ready to give anything he had to anyone who might need it, because as he often said: "I can't take it with me, and they need it more than I do." At family gatherings when it was time to dish up the plates, he would tap you on the shoulder and say: "Go ahead, after you I'm first". Toby will truly be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.
Memorial Service will be Tuesday, November 24, 2020, 1:30 p.m. at Victory Christian Center in Tulsa.
Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151