Shirley Ann Mason

Shirley Ann (Myers) Mason was born to Irven and Mabel (Walstrom) Myers on November 2, 1936 in Spencer, Iowa, just moments before the birth of her twin brother, and closest ally, S.A. (Bud) Myers. Shirley's childhood years were filled with the chores and adventures that only a farm in Iowa can offer. In 1955, she graduated from Greenville-Rossie High School, where she was a cheerleader, a clarinet player, and where she went through a short, but memorable, "Shirlee, with two e's" phase. Shirley was first married to James Atkinson in Spencer, on February 15, 1959. Before James' untimely death in 1964, the young couple had a son, Kevin, and had more fun than some couples have in decades-long unions. On June 4, 1966, after each had lost a spouse to Hodgkin's lymphoma, Shirley and L. Dale Mason were married in Spencer. In true Brady Bunch fashion, the families joined forces--with four children altogether--and made their first home in Sutherland and then on to Carroll, IA, where they had their fifth child, Joie. And that's when the entrepreneurial bug bit and the real moving began. They owned Mason's Market in Peterson before purchasing a liquor store in Ogallala, NE, and then they were off to Blair, NE, where they were owners/operators of the Cottonwood Marina, on the Missouri River. After Blair, it was back to Sutherland, where they transformed the former Post Office into a nightclub called The Old P.O. When the long hours and constant stress of restaurant ownership started to take its toll, Shirley and Dale moved to Hartley, Iowa to relax a bit by retaining full-time jobs, while simultaneously owning/operating a car wash and a stump-cutting business. Fully rested, they joined Dale's parents in Buffalo, SD, managing the City Bar, where it was not uncommon for a cowboy to sidle up to the bar while still on his horse. When Dale retired, it was back to the homeland for the couple, living for a time north of Spencer and then the Lakes area, where Shirley was employed by Berkley. They made their final home where it all began, in Sutherland, where they spent many happy days camping with friends at Dog Creek. And until Dale's death in 2007, they spent winters in Yuma, AZ. Shirley passed away at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer, Iowa on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at the age of 75. She left us far too soon and was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, James Atkinson and second husband, Dale Mason; a son-in-law, Al Dunlop; and her brother Dwane Myers. Left to cherish the memory of her, her quick laugh, her amazing macaroni and cheese, her polka-dancing skills, and her complete inability to remember a punch line, are her children: Jolise (Joie) Mason of Boise, ID; Kevin Mason of Aurora, CO; Barbara Jo (Jack) Bradshaw of Mission, TX: Bonnie (Ron) Mueller of Peterson, IA; and Becky Dunlop of Aurora, CO; her grandchildren, Brian Mueller (Jen), Kevin Mueller (Erin), David Knight, and Donnette Knight (Al); her twin brother, Bud, and his wife (and friend of Shirley's for 56 years), Mary Myers of Spencer, IA; seven great grandchildren; one great great grandson; two sisters-in-law: Mary Brown of Peterson, IA, and Bette Mason of New Port Richey, FL; many other beloved relatives and friends. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, a donation in Shirley's name be made to Iowa Hospice, whose compassionate staff brought peace and comfort to Shirley's last days on this earth.

SERVICES

OFFICIATING

CASKET BEARERS

VISITATION

MUSIC

INTERMENT