Arlene Cecelia (Lewis) Brass was born in San Francisco, CA on November 25, 1943, and she passed away on January 5, 2021, in Woodstock, GA, after a brief battle with Covid-19. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Barry Allan Brass, by 4 days.

Arlene graduated from Bucher High School in Santa Clara, CA before attending and graduating from San Jose State University with a teaching degree. During her college years in San Jose she met Barry, and they were married at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Santa Clara in 1965. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher where she laid the educational foundation of hundreds of children. She spent the next stage of her life focusing on being a mother with several stops in Georgia, Indiana and New York, before settling in Marietta, GA, where she began the next phase of her life, expanding on her creativity and love of painting in many different ways. She enjoyed painting large murals, decorative finishes for rooms, and eventually found her passion as an abstract painter and collage artist. She was a founding member of the Atlanta Collage Society, and an exceptional artist who won many awards for her work and was held in high regard by her peers.

Arlene is survived by her two children, Gregory (Greg) Matthew Brass (Holly) of Decatur, GA and Tyson Christopher Brass (Becky) of Lexington, KY, and five beautiful grandchildren; Annabelle Jane, Emmitt Christopher, Benjamin Matthew, Celia Marie, and Mary Lily Thompson as well as her younger sister, Robin Lewis of Lake Tahoe, CA, and niece Holly Hathaway. She also loved and will be greatly missed by several cousins and other nieces and nephews. In passing Arlene joins her parents, Anita Virginia Murphy and Orval Edgar Lewis, her fraternal twin brother Ted Lewis, and older sister Barbara Lewis Lane.

Arlene's passion for art was only exceeded by her love of family and friends. As a friend best described, her grandchildren were the "stars" that brightened her and Barry's lives, and that came from a pure, honest, and soul-deep love of family.

While it has been unimaginable to lose Arlene as well as Barry, rather than be upset or angry, we want to remember the joy and love that they shared with all of us. They were married for over 55 years, were the perfect partners, and complemented each other so well. Regardless of how you knew them, your life was happier because of them.

A private family service is being held at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA on Friday, January 29, 2021, where Arlene and Barry will be interred together in their final resting place. A celebration of their lives will be planned at a later date, when it is again safe to gather.

We will miss you Mom and Dad, but will honor you through living life to the fullest and sharing your passion and joy of life. To honor their legacy, donations may be made to:

Spruill Art Center
https://www.spruillarts.org/donate

or

Atlanta Collage Society
Attn: Cynthia Frigon - ACS Treasurer
3069 Vine Circle
Decatur 30033
cynthia.frigon@aol.com