Arlene Murrow Secrest, age 90, of Decatur, GA, passed away quietly on Saturday, May 22, 2010. We will celebrate her life at Decatur Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, May 26th, at 12PM. The family will receive friends at A. S. Turner and Sons, 2773 North Decatur Road in Decatur, GA, from 7PM to 9PM Tuesday evening. Arlene follows Lee, her husband of 53 years, who died Nov. 29, 1996, and is survived by her three sons and daughters-in-law, Lee, Alan and Aileen, Stephen and Patti; and four grandchildren: Amy, Stephanie, Stephen and Caroline. In a life characterized by independence, creativity and faith in her Savior, Arlene once said she "followed the music in my own heart" while serving her Lord, husband and family. After setting aside careers in advertising, journalism and modeling to become an Air Force wife and mother, she experienced the challenge and excitement of moving often and living in places ranging from Valdosta to Long Island to California to Tokyo. As her faith deepened, she would establish prayer groups and Bible studies everywhere she lived. Following her husband's diagnosis of cancer in 1991, the two adopted the motto of "live life while there is life" and enjoyed cruises to Alaska and Hawaii, travel to Florida with their grandchildren, and weekend getaways at Stone Mountain, where Arlene had lived from 5th grade through high school. She advised her grandchildren, quoting Thoreau, to, "Go confidently into the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." And, she told them, "I believe I have!" A. S. Turner & Sons
