C.A. "CASS" CASSING

C.A."Cass" Cassing, a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Raytown, went to be with his Lord on Feb. 1, 2013. Visitation will be Tues. Feb 5 from 5- 7PM at Floral Hills Funeral Home. Services will be on Wed at 10AM with burial and military honors to follow. Cass was born on Aug. 2, 1926, and grew up in Concordia, MO, earning a BS of Ed from CMSU in Warrensburg in 1951 where he lettered in multiple sports. He was President of the CMSU Alumni Association twice and active in the University's Hall of Fame selection committee. He earned lifetime membership recognition in both organizations, and was inducted into the CMSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Cass was a long-time member and promoter of the Raytown community, where he lived since 1951. Cass was a teacher and coach at Raytown High School from 1951-54 until he started selling sporting goods. He was a member of many organizations in Raytown ranging from the Raytown Jaycees, Raytown Sertoma Club, and was president two separate times, the Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce, serving twice as chairman of its board and received the Man of the Year award in 1990, he chaired Raytown Night at the Royals baseball game for the last 23 years, a member of the Raytown Rotary Club since 1982 serving as secretary, treasurer, vice-president, and president in 1998, a contributing member of the Raytown Historical Society, former member of Raytown Park Board, building committee member for Raytown Emergency Program (REAP), member of Raytown South HS A+ Program Committee and was on the Raytown School District oversight committee in 2006's bond issue. He spent 20 years with Gateway Sporting Goods and Jerry's Sport Shop in Grandview until retirement in mid 2011. Cassing served in the Merchant Marines and US Army during WWII. While in the Army, he played baseball with famed major league manager Tommy Lasorda. He also played professional baseball with the Johnson City Redbirds, a minor league farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals. Cass was also a member since 1976 of the Kansas City Royal Lancers, a booster group of the Royals Baseball Team for season ticket sales. He served as secretary, treasurer, and president in 1983. In 1980, he was made a General Lancer for selling over 400 season tickets. He was Santa Claus for KC Royals employees and their children for several years. Cass also served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Former Park Lane Medical Center and Board of Directors of Research Mental Health. He received the Annual Civic Leadership Award on July 19, 2007. Cass was preceded in death by his parents, John and Flora Cassing, and brothers, Harold and Norbert Cassing. He leaves his wife of 49 years, Colleen; daughter, Cheryl (Paul) Benedict; son, Clint A. Cassing; sister-in-law, Lee Williams; and nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to REAP, Raytown Historical Society, or Ascension Lutheran Church in Raytown. Condolences for the family may be left at www.floralhillsfuneralhome.com. (Arrangements by D.W. Newcomer's Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO 64133, 816- 353-1218) D