Obituary notice for
Dr. John Charles Casebeer   73
Dec. 21, 1938   ~   Dec. 14, 2012

      John Charles Casebeer, M.D., 73, passed away on Dec. 14, 2012, at his beloved C Bar C ranch near Divide, surrounded by his family.

      Charles was born on Dec. 21, 1938, in Butte, to Marietta and Harvey Lee Casebeer, M.D.   He was a 1956 graduate of Butte High School and a 1960 graduate of Harvard University.   On Dec. 27, 1962, he married Terry Stephenson. Two years later, he received his M.D. from the University of Southern California and went on to complete a surgical internship at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.

      After serving three years in the Air Force as a medical officer in Madrid, Spain, he completed an ophthalmology residency at Stanford University.   In 1971, he moved to Flagstaff, Ariz., and began private practice.   While in Flagstaff, Charles founded Surgical Eye Expeditions International of Arizona, serving as its president from 1975 to 1994 and receiving numerous humanitarian awards for his work, primarily in Mexico, serving the ophthalmologic needs of the poor.   In 1980, he divorced.

      Charles was one of the pioneers in keratorefractive surgery, leaving Flagstaff in 1994 to relocate his practice to Scottsdale, Ariz., forming the Casebeer Eye Centers, Ltd.   In 1997, he returned to his home state of Montana where his practice, which involved extensive travel, was limited to clinical research, education and product development.   In 2003, he founded Choices Anti-Aging Centers and served as the president and CEO for seven years.

      He was a charter member of The Lasik Institute and his extensive list of professional memberships included the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, the American College of Eye Surgeons and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

      Preceded in death by his parents, Charles is survived by his three children, Laura Casebeer of Phoenix, Ariz., John C. Casebeer II of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Gregory L. Casebeer of Portland, Ore., and by his grandson, Tosh Myers of Phoenix.   Also surviving are his brothers, Harvey L. Casebeer Jr., M.D. (Nancy) and James E. Casebeer, M.D. (Susan):   and his sister, Mary Anne Foster (Robert).   Surviving nieces and nephews include Kimberly Jackson (Greg), H. Lee Casebeer (Mary), Major Michael Casebeer (Graciela), Marietta Canty (Carlo), Tia Mueret, Christopher Casebeer, Nicole Casebeer and Robert Foster.

      Special thanks go to Rocky Mountain Hospice for their exceptional care.   An event celebrating his life will be held at a later date.

      Axelson Alternative Cremation is privileged to serve the Casebeer family.

          Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits.

Posted in Montana Standard Obituaries on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012
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