Dorothy L. Mason

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday December 28, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the 1^st Baptist Church in Mason City with Pastor Roger McDermott officiating.  Burial will be in the Mason City Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Tuesday December 27, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the 1^st Baptist Church in Mason City.  Memorials are suggested to the Mason City Cemetery Foundation, 1^st Baptist Church at Mason City or the Homeward Trails Bible Camp at Mason City.  Govier Brothers Mortuary of Broken Bow is in charge of the arrangements.  Online condolences can be left at www.govierbrothers.com 

The services will be live streamed at www.govierbrothers.com

Dorothy Lucille Mason, 108, passed away December 20, 2022, at Seneca Sunrise Assisted Living Facility in Ravenna, NE.  She was born to Ernest and Nora (Parkhurst) Ummel on September 11, 1914, at the hospital in Mason City, NE.  She thought, at her advanced age, that it was remarkable to have been born in a small-town hospital during a time when so many were born at home. 

Dorothy graduated in 1932 from Mason City High School, and later attended Nebraska Teacher’s College in Kearney, NE, where she earned a teacher certification degree.  She started teaching in a one-room school in Cumro, NE, next took positions at Happy Hollow Districts near Berwyn and Mason City, and later taught fifth and sixth grades for Mason City Public School, totaling nine years of teaching. 

Dorothy married Lauren Mason December 25, 1937, at her parents’ home near Mason City, a convenient time for family and friends to gather for a celebration.  During their first 18 years together, they farmed, and their son Charles (Chuck) was born in 1945.  In 1955, the family moved into Mason City, where they had a service station for many years.  They enjoyed 62 years together until Lauren’s death in 1998. 

In addition to her bookkeeping and management work at the gas station, Dorothy took up a new career of cooking school lunches—you guessed it—at Mason City Public Schools.  For more than two decades, her delicious entrees and baked desserts fed students from kindergarten through eighth grade, and she retired in her mid-seventies, only because she’d broken her arm. 

Dorothy’s level of energy and enthusiasm were admired by many.  She was active in Rebekah Lodge, Mason City annual Homecoming, community organizations, and Mason City First Baptist Church from childhood on.  She loved music and was an accomplished pianist, performing at church, school functions and many other events over eight decades.   Dorothy belonged to a variety of card clubs, all of which delighted her.  She bowled for decades as long as her health allowed and even held “special” honors with WII Bowling later, when she frequently rolled strikes.

At the age of 98, Dorothy decided living alone wasn’t as enjoyable or easy as it had been earlier, so she made the decision to live at Seneca Sunrise Assisted Living Residence in Ravenna where she spent the rest of her earthly days.  Here, she was able to adopt a much-loved new family, and decorate the lives of staff and other residents with her charm, wit, talent and fun.

Dorothy’s most frequent expression was a huge smile and hearty laugh.  She loved cooking, entertaining, having fun, bingo when she won, playing cards, Seneca Sunrise and Mason City.  But especially, she loved her Lord and people.   Though she will be greatly missed, she leaves a legacy of wonderful memories. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Lauren, her parents Ernest and Nora Ummel, her brother Clarence (Ick) and sister-in-law Sylvia Ummel. Family left to remember her specialness include her son Charles (Chuck) and daughter-in-law Jackie Mason, grandchildren Bryan Mason and Lindsey (Matt) Ansbach, three great-grandchildren, four step-grandsons, five step-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.