Claude Dean

Claude Schaeffer Dean - GARLAND, TX - Claude Schaeffer Dean, 73, of Garland, TX, passed away on February 19, 2013. He was born in Eufaula, Alabama, July 15, 1939, the son of the late Leonard Yancey Dean, III and Mary Schaeffer Dean. Schaeffer was an avid pilot and golfer. He loved his family, especially his three wonderful granddaughters, for whom he always sang many praises. Schaeffer had a wonderful and quirky sense of humor, always making others smile and laugh. He was kind, generous, and compassionate with others, even those he barely knew. He had a keen business sense, finding success in multiple ventures, from real estate to financing to sales to investing. He was truly a jack of all trades. Having been diagnosed with melanoma, Schaeffer was enthusiastic about helping others fight their own battle with cancer. He would always direct people to the Protocel chapter in the book, Outsmart Your Cancer, by Tanya Harter Pierce, after having beneficial results with his own disease. He volunteered as a pilot with Angel Flight, a non-profit organization of pilots and other volunteers who arrange and provide free private air transportation for medical patients who are financially distressed or who are in a time-critical, non-emergency situation due to their medical condition. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Leonard Yancey Dean, IV and Milton Thweatt Dean. He is survived by, his three children, Christopher Shea Dean (Lynn) of Allen, TX, Chad Simpson Dean (Veronica) of Wylie, TX, and Cathryn Anne O'Neill (Mark) of Dallas, TX; his sister, Helen Dean Downing of Savannah, GA; his aunt Margaret Schaeffer Thomas of Eufaula, AL; his grandchildren, Casey Ann Dean, Sofia Marisela Dean, and Charlotte Avelyn O'Neill; his nephews, Yancey Dean and Pearce Dean; his nieces, Mary Dean (Benasso), Leslie Dean, Callie Downing; his ex-wife and good friend, Linda Dean; and several great nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, TX on Saturday, March 2, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to Angel Flight South Central; 2550 Midway Road, Suite 220; Carrollton, TX 75006 www.angelflightsoars.com Savannah Morning News March 1, 2013 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.