Flavis J Lee Casson

Obituary
Flavis J Lee Casson, Jr., 75, of Georgetown, passed away suddenly Tuesday afternoon.

Flavis was born in Tennga, Georgia, but spent most of his life in Cleveland, which he considered home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Flavis J Lee, Sr. and Dorothy Headrick Casson.

He is survived by Nancy, his wife, best friend, and business partner for 34 years, and his son, Dr. Lee Casson of Chattanooga.

Flavis graduated from Sewanee Military Academy as the highest ranking cadet in his class. He was also a member of the prestigious Gorgas Guard Rifle Team and of the golf team. Long after graduation, he continued to talk about the sand greens at Sewanee.

He then attended the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, and he graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College, where he was on the golf team. He still holds the record for the lowest score on the old 9th hole at Springbrook Golf Course.

After graduation from Tennessee Wesleyan College, he attended The University of Tennessee Law School, never intending to practice law but feeling that the knowledge would help him in his other endeavors.

Flavis was a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard for six years, serving as 1st Lt. Scout Platoon Leader HQ CO 2/117 Inf. Bn. He received several accommodations for his leadership in field training exercises, and as a friend said, one of the best leaders they had.

Flavis was raised in the restaurant business. He first worked alongside his parents at the Cassanova Grill, which the family owned and operated, and later at the Cleveland Country Club, the Little Old Fort Inn, and finally the original Old Fort Inn (another family-owned business), located where the Garden Plaza is now.

After leaving the restaurant business, Flavis obtained a realtors and appraisers license and worked successfully in this area for a few years.

In 1981 he and his wife started Casson Art, a very successful business that provided design services and decorative and corporate art locally, regionally, and nationally. In 2008 they sold Casson Art, retiring to the Hiwassee River that he loved so much. He thoroughly enjoyed British television, PBS programs, and watching the eagles feed or feeding his fish and turtles that lived around his dock.

Active in the community, Flavis was as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club and the Cleveland Country Club, was a member of the Cleveland Elks Lodge, and was a member of Broad Street United Methodist Church. He also chaired the Cleveland/Bradley County Consolidation Committee, by appointment from Mayor Gary Davis. A friend acknowledged, He was knowledgeable and didnt mind sharing his knowledge.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to Holston United Methodist Home for Children, PO Box 188, Greeneville, TN 37744, Broad Street United Methodist Church, 155 Central Avenue NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 or The Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland, 385 3rd Street, Cleveland, TN 37311 or the organization of your choice.

A memorial service is scheduled at Broad Street United Methodist Church on Friday, June 12. Visitation is from 1:00 to 3:00 with the memorial service at 3:00.

You are encouraged to share a memory of Flavis and/or personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial web page and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com.

Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist the Casson family with his arrangements.


Visitation Details
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Friday, June 12th, 2014
Broad Street United Methodist Church
155 Central Avenue NW
Cleveland, TN 37311

Interment
Friday, June 12th, 2015

Celebration of Life MemorialService Details
3:00 PM
Friday, June 12th, 2015
Broad Street United Methodist Church
155 Central Avenue NW
Cleveland, TN 37311

Broad Street United Methodist Church Memory Garden
following the service