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Trying to recover from mother's unexpected death Casey Galusha-Beck with her youngest child, Milo. Casey died unexpectedly earilier this month. Courtesy photo Saturday Jan 28, 2017 at 2:00 AM By John Darling For the Tidings The family of Ashland native Casey Galusha-Beck is about two-thirds of the way to their GoFundMe goal of $75,000 for living, memorial and medical expenses, after her sudden death in a Bend hospital on Jan. 17. Raised in Ashland and a 2002 graduate of Ashland High School, she was 32. She is survived by her husband, Jordan Beck, owner of Rogue Biofuels, and two children, Maya, 3, and Milo, 1. The family lived in Ashland until moving to the Applegate a year ago. The funds, which went past $54,000 Friday, will also be used for children’s expenses. Galusha-Beck was visiting with her husband’s family in Sisters for the New Year’s weekend when she was taken ill with mastitis, a breast infection associated with nursing, then sepsis and septic shock, according to the family’s post on www.caringbridge.org/visit/caseygalushabeck. She was admitted to ICU at St. Charles Hospital in Bend and, after a few days, was released to a regular hospital room for “presumed recovery,” says the family’s entry at www.gofundme.com/caseygalushabeck#updates. Her heart stopped and “doctors were able to keep her body alive, but not her mind and she left us January 17.” Jordan Beck said, “She was a long-term member of the community. It’s a drastic change in my life, as well as the children’s. I’m trying to make a smooth transition and continue to be a provider as a single parent … It’s the worst nightmare from everyone’s point of view — parents, children, everyone.” The GoFundMe campaign has been met with “overwhelming support,” he said. “I have never experienced anything like it or thought I would have to. So many people have been very generous. Also our family, a big one, spread all over Oregon, has come together on this.” Beck started his business about a decade ago in Phoenix, later moving to Medford. A drop-off point is still operating on Highway 99 in Ashland. It collects oil from restaurants and other sources. He said the business is doing well, but cheap gasoline has cut into demand for the environmentally-friendly biodiesel, which drives a engines converted to use it. “We enjoy what we do,” he says. “It’s not easy for small-time folks to stay in business when prices for oil are going down — a fraction, about 60 percent of prices five years ago … We’re hanging on and hoping demand for renewable fuels continues.” Beck says he will be relying on grandparents and other family for help with child care and will be doing more work by computer and phone at home. Details about a memorial service for Galusha-Beck will be announced later. “Casey was the kindest, most caring, generous, thoughtful, inspirational, and loving person I knew,” wrote Meagan Armstrong on Caring Bridge. “She was a woman with a soul of gold, as one of her doctors put it after knowing her for only a week. Everyone who knew Casey loved her. She had an infectious spirit and personality that warmed hearts and lives. She was so beautiful, inside and out. To say she'll be missed is an understatement, but what we can say is each and every one of us who was lucky enough to be touched by Casey will never, ever forget her. We love you more than words can say.” The GoFundMe goal is $75,000. Contributions may be made at www.gofundme.com/caseygalushabeck. Joe Zavala is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 541-821-0829 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Zavala99.