Jean Finnie Casson

Jean Finnie Casson, age 95, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, passed away on October 23, 2025.

Jean was born October 1, 1930 in Fort Worth, Texas, the only child of Fred and Rubye Finnie. She moved to Bryson, Texas in 1933 and grew up living in the Bryson Railroad Depot, where she played near the tracks and performed little tap dances for the trainmen who came through. Jean also sold them eggs and invested the money in war bonds.

Jean earned a bachelor's degree, with honors, in Elementary Education at North Texas State College (now North Texas University) in Denton, Texas. She was active in many campus organizations and elected to Who's Who in American Universities in 1952.

She taught 5th grade for several years in Fort Worth, Texas, before receiving a scholarship to Peabody College (now part of Vanderbilt University), in Nashville, Tennessee to do graduate study. She earned a master's degree and taught at the Demonstration School of Peabody College.

In Nashville, she met LCDR Robert M Casson, of Elmira, New York, who was finishing a master's degree in economics and teaching Navy ROTC at Vanderbilt. He was a graduate of the Naval Academy, and did tours in the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Washington DC, Nevada and the Bikini Islands.

Jean and Bob were married in 1963 in Naples, Italy during Bob's tour in the Mediterranean. It was an unusual wedding in that they were married on May 31 in Italian by two Italian civil authorities, then on June 1 by two Navy chaplains in a double ring ceremony. Jean liked to say that they had "tied a double knot".

Bob retired from the Navy in 1965. They moved to Wheat Ridge, Colorado in 1966, near the family of Bob's brother John in Lakewood. Bob worked as an engineer for Worthington Corporation and Stearns-Roger before retiring in 1982. They spent many active years together, traveling and volunteering in the community until his death on October 28, 2000.

Jean continued a life of volunteering. She was an active member of Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Women, the St. Andrew Society of Colorado (a Scottish organization), and the Applewood Reliques-a chapter of Questers antique club. She also volunteered in the Jefferson County Libraries, the Jeffco Action Center, and a local nursing home. She was an enthusiastic gardener, cook, reader, seamstress, floral designer, and crocheter. She had a keen intellect, a quick wit, and an encyclopedic memory. She was intellectually curious and remained a lifelong educator, researching and sharing her knowledge through formal presentations and informal storytelling.

Jean is survived by many treasured friends as well as her loving family: sister-in-law Barbara Casson; nieces Linda Casson and Cindy Price; nephews David Casson, Bruce Casson, and Doug Casson, along with their families; 15 great-nephews and great-nieces; four great-great-nephews. We will all miss her!

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 11500 W. 20th Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church https://www.soth.net

St. Andrew Society of Colorado Heritage Fund https://www.coloradoscots.org/heritage-fund

The Action Center https://www.theactioncenter.org

Diabetes Association of America

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association