Marion Holden Mason

Marion Thomson (Holden) Mason died in Tulsa, Oklahoma on February 21, 2016 at the age of 100 plus 11 months and 21 days. Marion was born March 12, 1915 in Detroit Michigan to Jessie McLean and Howard Bancroft Holden. She attended schools in Detroit, Havergal College in Toronto and graduated in 1937 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a B.A. Degree with majors in French and Art History. Following graduation she went to work for a firm of Investment Bankers and Underwriters in Detroit where she became the Secretary to the President of the firm. At the University of Michigan she became a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, was a by-line writer for the Michigan Daily and served as President of Theta Sigma Phi, the National Honorary Professional Journalism Sorority. In January of 1941 she married William Henry Mason of Auburn N.Y. He was the son of Dr. William Henry Mason and Mary Ann (Brown) Mason. Bill also graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a ROTC Commission in the Army. They were married in Detroit on January 25, 1941 and came to live in Tulsa at that time. Marion remained in Tulsa for the past 75 years. Bill was called for service during World War Il in early 1942 and served four years, mostly deployed to the Aleutian Islands and Alaska. William Henry Mason died in 1981 in Tulsa. Shortly after the close of the War, they went into business for themselves as the William H. Mason Company which later became Enerex, Inc. and Enerfin, Inc. as well as Mason Associates, Inc. with Marion as President. The three companies are still in business today. Marion also was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and served on its Board of Trustees, the Women's Association, the Christian Fellowship Class, the Mariner Class, the Guild of Intercessors. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Brownie Leader, and a Girl Scout Troop Leader. She served as President of the Alumnae chapter of Pi Peta Phi, the President of the Tulsa Branch of American Association of University Women and was also A.A.U.W. Education Chairman for the State of Oklahoma. She was also on the Board of Children's Day Nursery and was active in various ways at Philbrook Museum, Gilcrease Museum and the Scottish Club of Tulsa. She is survived by her daughter Patricia Mason Claflin and her husband Prentice W. Claflin of Nantucket, Massachusetts and Grandson Edwin Mason Claflin; her three sons, Richard Holden Mason and his wife Jane of Ontario Canada and grandson William Henry Mason and wife Coleen of Alberta, Canada and granddaughters, Anne and April of Canada; Robert McLean Mason and wife Mimi of Broken Arrow Oklahoma and granddaughter Melissa Mason Cruts and husband Kevin and a great-granddaughter; grandson Christopher Mason and wife Julie and a great-granddaughter; grandson Ian McLean Mason, all of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Roger William Mason who lives in Tulsa Oklahoma. She is survived by her sister, Jane Holden Walker of Carlsbad, Ca and a nephew, Jock Mclean Walker and his wife Yuriko of San Francisco and his family. Visitation will be 4-6 P.M., Thursday, March 3, 2016 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. A graveside service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery at 2:30 on March 4, 2016 followed by a Memorial Service at the First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa at 3:30 on March 4, 2016. A gathering at Inverness Village will be held from 5:00 to 6:30 in the Founders Room. In lieu of flowers contributions in Marion's memory may be sent to Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, 2432 East 51 Street Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74105-6002 or Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 South Rockford Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114 or Gilcrease Museum 1400 North Gilcrease Road Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Marion Holden Mason

March 12, 1915 - February 21, 2016