Beverly Mason

Memorial services for Beverly Jan Mason will be held at Marvin United Methodist Church on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at 2 p.m. with Dr. Doug Baker, senior pastor, and the Rev. Michael Schutz of Longview officiating. Beverly passed away Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, of complications after a courageous 13-year battle with cancer. Beverly was born Sept. 5, 1940, to Alice and Irvin Medford in Waxahachie. She grew up in Tyler and was a member of the last graduating class from Tyler High School in 1958. She received a B.A. degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown in 1962, and then for nine years worked as director of education at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Robert S. Tate in Austin. Beverly later served in Lyndon B. Johnson's Job 70 Program, training persons in poverty for positions in health care and industry in various locations throughout Texas. Beverly was a member of the administrative team at Trinity Mother Frances for 30 years, first in education and later as vice president of marketing. She experienced a great sense of pride, witnessing the growth of the hospital from a small health care provider to a nationally recognized health care system. Beverly initiated many of the programs still in place, but most of all loved being an advocate for patients and mentor to many women and men who worked with her. She was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Littera Book Club, Mildred Floyd Garden Club and Sophia Study Club. Beverly was a leader in the Noonday United Methodist Church where she and her friend Claudia Jackson enlisted the help of their husbands to raise money to build a new church by developing the Noonday Onion Festival. This event grew into an annual festival, and through the efforts of many, raised money to build the church. Beverly loved gourmet cooking and shared that interest with others as a founding member of TIDBITS dinner club. For more than 25 years, the group cooked and laughed together and enjoyed friendships, children and family transitions. Beverly married Pete Mason, of Tyler, the love of her life, Nov. 5, 1971, in the Chapel of Marvin United Methodist Church. Beverly passionately loved her family, her husband, Pete, her children and grandchildren. She believed that her greatest accomplishment was the loving, beautiful family she and Pete had created together. A very spiritual person, Beverly always sought the sacred in the ordinary. She loved writing poetry and laughing with dear friends who always blessed her life. She is survived by her devoted husband of 43 years, Pete Mason; son, Blaine Mason and his wife Stacie, of Flower Mound; daughter, Maura Mason Donelson and her husband Ryan, of Austin; sister, Dr. Karen Medford Wuertz and her husband Jim, of Waxahachie; and grandchildren, Catherine Guilbeault Mason and Elizabeth McPherson Mason, of Flower Mound and Caroline Mason Donelson and Claire Alice Donelson, of Austin. The memorial service eulogy will be delivered by Lindsey Bradley. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy O'Barr, Connie and Tom Dana, Dr. and Mrs. Preston Harrison, Peggy and Don Heath, Claudia and Fred Jackson, Cindy and Randy Kidwell, Dr. and Mrs. Jon Ledlie, Dr. and Mrs. Fagg Sanford, Dr. Andrew Quiroz, Dr. Frank Ward and Jim Wuertz. Beverly will be buried alongside her parents and ancestors in the Whitefield Family plot on the grounds of Bethel United Methodist Church in Ellis County. E.M. Brack and G.W. Whitefield were among the first settlers in the Greathouse and Boz communities. They were instrumental in the development of the Bethel Methodist Church where her family worshipped beginning in the mid-1800s. Even as we grieve, Beverly would want us to remember that the important lesson was not only in how she faced death, but that she lived. Donations, if desired, may be made to The Hospice of East Texas Foundation or to Trinity Mother Frances Health System Foundation. Published in Tyler Morning Telegraph on Feb. 22, 2014

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