Rockdale/Newton Citizen Memoriams
http://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com
Flora Arlene Fleming Cassens, 94, died following a long bout with cancer on February
21, 2023.
Arlene was born in Taintor, Iowa, on May 14, 1928. Arlene grew up on a farm with four
sisters and one brother where she said "My happiest times were when riding a horse." She
went to the Granville School through 8th grade and moved into New Sharon to live with relatives
while going to high school. Arlene was described as a "hot shot" basketball player for her high
school and she graduated as salutatorian and vice president of her class.
Her first job was with the John Deere Company in Ottumwa, Iowa. Arlene married
Rudolph Donald "Don" Cassens July 4, 1951. She had a long career as a secretary in numerous
cities including Jacksonville, Florida where she was the secretary to the head of the Florida
Medical Association, worked as a closing secretary for the Conyers law firm of Jim Nichols, later
Nichols, Lavigno, Smith, and Rice, and retired from the law firm of Anderson and Terrell. Arlene
moved to St. Marys in 2019 to be near one of her children after living in Conyers, Georgia for
forty-eight years. She was a long time active member of the Conyers Presbyterian Church.
Arlene was predeceased by her husband, Don Cassens, in March 2013, and is survived
by their four children: Tricia (Charlie) Smith, St. Marys, Georgia; Jean (Ted) Gail, Reno,
Nevada; Denise (Tom) Kansas, Houston, Texas; and Phil Cassens, Templeton, California. She
is also survived by grandchildren Rudy Cortjens (Lauren), Marian Kansas, Tommy Kansas,
Robert Kansas, Brian Smith (Natalie), Joel Smith (Silvana), Chloe Cassens, and Josie Cassens;
and by 4 great-grandchildren, Alan and Juliana Smith, and Hunter and Ashton Cortjens. She is
also survived by one sister Gayle Ferguson of New Sharon, Iowa as well as many nieces,
nephews, and other relatives.
Pursuant to Arlene's wishes, her body will be cremated, so that the ashes can be spread
with her deceased husband's ashes over the family property at a cabin in North Georgia. There
will be no memorial service. Allison Funeral home was in charge of arrangements. In lieu of
flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of the Golden Isles in memory of Arlene F.
Cassens.
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