Carla Kassaw

Carla Mae Schmidt Kassaw was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 19th, 1944. She was the daughter of Arthur Karl Schmidt and Dorothy Black Schmidt. The family moved to Pettus, Texas, during her childhood. She graduated from Pettus High School in 1962. She attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas and later transferred to North Texas State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education.

She married Jan L. Kassaw on June 17th, 1967. The couple lived briefly in San Marcos, Texas where she worked as a music teacher and later for the Methodist church. They later moved to San Antonio, where their daughter, Kristin, was born in 1971 and son, Jon, was born in 1977. Carla devoted her time to her children for many years. She was also active in the sanctuary choir and handbell choir of Alamo Heights United Methodist Church. As her children got older, she began teaching piano and clarinet lessons, instilling a love of music in many young children.

She had a lifelong interest in aviation and took flying lessons to get her private pilot’s license. She also returned to school to earn her FAA certificate in aircraft maintenance and worked for a local maintenance company for several years.

Carla was a longtime member of Moon-McGehee chapter the Daughter’s of the Republic of Texas. She was an avid reader and had a lifelong intellectual curiosity. She was also passionate about her German Shepherd dogs.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Kristin Kassaw, son-in-law Ben Johnson and granddaughter Claire Johnson of Missouri City, Texas. She is also survived by her son, Jon Kassaw and his wife, Debra, who live in Carthage, Texas.

Carla was called to her eternal home on January 23, 2012 after a brief illness. A memorial service will be held at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, 825 East Basse in San Antonio at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday the 26th of January, 2012. She will be laid to rest at Lakeland Hills Cemetery in Burnet, Texas to await the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Linda Tiramani, 520 8th Ave, 7th Floor, New York, New York, 10018. Condolences may be offered to www.clementswilcoxburnet.com

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home Burnet, Texas.