Shirley Mason

Shirley Marie Mason, age 62 years of Niles, Michigan died at 7:07 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on May 5, 1954 in Niles to John and Martha (Fox) Herrmann. She was graduated from Ross Beatty High School in Cassopolis, Michigan, continued her education at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo), and has lived here all of her life. She was retired from AT&T, having served as a telephone operator in both Niles and South Bend, Indiana.

Shirley was a member of Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles. She enjoyed traveling, and had taken eleven ocean cruises, but her favorite and annual destination was the British Virgin Islands – often with friends Lorrie & Bruce Vosburgh. She was also a fan of all sports at the University of Notre Dame, and of the – now (finally) World Series Champion – Chicago Cubs. Her greatest joy was her family.

On November 11, 1982 in Cassopolis she married William J. “Scooter” Mason, Sr. with whom she celebrated last year the thirty-fourth anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Scooter Mason and step-children Serita Mason of Niles, Bill (& Melissa) Mason, Jr. of Kannapolis, North Carolina and twins Carrie Mason and Cherrie (& Jeff) Strausbaugh, both of Chillicothe, Ohio; step-grandchildren, twins Desiree & Jasmine Love, and Alisha Stransbaugh; Shirley’s brother, Ed Smoker of Elkhart, Indiana and sister Patricia Smoker of Elkhart.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a step-granddaughter, April Sue Mason.

The Memorial Mass for Shirley Mason will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2017 at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. of the parish. Contributions in memory of Shirley may be made to Saint Mark Catholic Church. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.