Genevieve M. "Ginger" Mason's Obituary
Genevieve "Ginger" Mason, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother, the matriarch of our family, has passed away in Lakewood, Washington recently at the venerable age of 97. She is survived by her husband, Vernon, also 97, her brother Ronny (spouse Joyce), her daughter Barbara and her sons Barry (spouse Patricia), Ray (Annette) and Scott (Joan); grandchildren Julia, Tyson, Joseph (Bridget), Noah (Miriam), David (Lisa), Michelle (Bill), Phillip (Keely), Russell (Dawn), Danny (Andrea), Nathan (Mylinh), Jake (Brooke), Brandon, Kailie (Ron), Luke, and Jordan (Lauren); 23 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great grandkids.
She was born in Sedgewick, Alberta, Canada, November 17th 1923, the eldest of six children. Raised during the depression, she had to drop out of school after the 8th grade to help raise her brothers and sisters. She became and American citizen in 1946 when she married and American Air Force Officer. Being an active services member's wife she moved around many times living in such disparate places as Fairbanks, Alaska (Ladd AFB) and Tripoli, Libya (Wheelus AFB). She raised kids but with an eye on the future; she completed her GED, taught herself Algebra, Studied classic Chinese figure writing and went to school to become a stenographer. She learned to drive having not had the opportunity earlier and ended up getting a job on base, starting as a secretary but working her way up the ladder to, when she retired, being the personal assistance to General for NORAD.
Once retired she didn't stop there. She learned how to tap dance and subsequently joined a dance troupe, at the age of 67, that entertained residents of Nursing facilities. When the people she danced with became unreliable she went solo and continued to dance for 11 more years, making her own costumes, while doing up to 90 shows per year! In addition to this, she also became a member of Toastmistresses in order to confront her fear of public speaking she had always had. In her late seventies she and Vern bought computers, learned how to use them early on and even learned how to program. They ended up writing programs to assist their church, St. Francis Cabrini, with their tithing records and other financials. Finally they slowed down in their early nineties when encumbered with physical problems. But still, she took care of Vern with some help, while retaining her independence ( which included her ability to drive even up to the end).
Ginger had a zest and zeal for life that was uncommon and it rubbed off of her in all that she did and on all people whose path she crossed while on this earth. She will be missed terribly but the world is a better place for her having been here.
In lieu of flowers we request you make donations to St. Francis Cabrini School.
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