Kathleen Marie Burleson

We are deeply saddened, but heaven is rejoicing at her arrival. Born on Nov. 6, 1952 in Hastings, Nebraska, Cas spent her childhood traveling and performing as an aerialist, contortionist, on the rolling globe, and magician’s assistant with her family on numerous circuses throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A third-generation circus performer, her family wintered and eventually settled in Sarasota. Cas attended and graduated from Sarasota High School in 1971.

Cas was multi-talented in the arts and used her creativity to bring joy and laughter to others. As a photographer who learned the art from her father, she mastered the techniques that enabled her to create artistic images on film. Her favorite subjects were beaches, architecture, nature, wildlife, and portraitures, but she also enjoyed whimsical photographs that gave life and personalities to inanimate objects, fruits, and vegetables as in her Photos with Feelings line of cards and gifts.

As an artist, Cas created life-like trompe-l'œil art, which are optical illusions, or literally “fool the eye,” painting butterflies, koi ponds, and lizards on rocks and stones, and on furniture she painted scenes of seashells and sunglasses, small toys, letters and postcards, and more on furniture that was so realistic, people would often reach for an item on a table that was actually a painting. She created a line of Gnome Homes with rocks painted and adapted to look like tiny homes, and her inspirational “Pathlight” collection of painted stones to” help light the way,” all which she sold through art galleries, craft fairs, and in her Etsy store.

Cas was also a published author with her poems appearing on gift products that sold by the hundreds nationwide.

Cas became interested in antiques and collectibles when she met store owner and future soulmate, Cheryl Burleson, at Cheryl’s antique shop, The Attic Junction, in Sarasota.

As talented as Cas was as an artist, her greatest gift was her compassionate heart. She was drawn to and driven to help others.

Creating fundraising events including “Standing Room Only - A Celebration of Performing Arts,” “Presence of Angels - Trees of Aviles” a benefit for RSVP (Retired Senior and Volunteer Program), followed by “An Evening on Aviles,” a benefit for Hospice Northeast of St. Johns County. In the Ponce De Leon Mall Cas coordinated the “Child Safe Summer,” for safety awareness; “Warm and Cozy – Make a Difference Day” to benefit homebound senior citizens and the Council on Aging, “Empty Bowl” to feed citizens in need. Cas believed that most people want to help others, they just don’t know how so she gave them ways they could help.

Cas returned to Sarasota in 2014 to be near her family where she volunteered at the Senior Friendship Center, Tidewell Hospice, Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Gift Shop, and St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, which was in her own neighborhood of Gulf Gate and was a perfect fit for her as it supported those in need in the community. She began as a volunteer, was soon hired part-time, and ultimately, became the store’s manager. Her knowledge of antiques helped the store raise much more money from the products that had been donated, as she recognized their value and collectability. When Cas began doing store design and rearranging the store for ease of access as well as beauty, the store no longer looked like a thrift store, but rather like a chic boutique.

Through her church, The First Congregational United Church of Christ in Sarasota, she helped with numerous projects that benefitted the community. There she organized the first Pet Blessings at the church benefitting shelters, the guide dog facility, and other animal services.

Cas’s legacy will be felt long after her passing in the ripple affect she leaves through her art, her creativity, and the contributions she made to the communities and the people whose lives she touched. On January 1st, 2017 during a sunrise walk on the beach, God gave her a message as she admired the rays of morning light streaming through the still-dark sky. His message was, “See those rays of light? Be that.”

Cas Burleson is survived by her son, William N. “Hawk” Holmes, sister Julie (Bruce) Schwartz, brother Michael “Mic” (Tena) Fuller, nieces Erin Rachael (Brian) Winzeler, Autumn (Rob) Gogola, and Heidi (Daniel) Derocher, nephews Michael (Candis) Smith, and Christian Fuller, grandson Jade Holmes, and numerous great grandchildren, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. Preceded in death by father Charles L. Fuller, mother Leila Marie (Dunlap) Fuller, and brother Charles Lee Fuller.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, April 4th, 2025 at 10am at Palms Memorial Park, 5200 Fruitville Road. A Celebration of Life will follow at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1031 S. Euclid Avenue. All family and friends are invited.