Cora Blanding Mason

Cora Blanding Mason
1923-2011
Resident of Scotts Valley
Services will be Oct. 9 for Cora Blanding Mason, who died peacefully August 19 at her home in Portland, Oregon, of congestive heart failure. She was 87.
A native of Corsicana, Texas, Mrs. Mason attended college in Denton, Tex. During the war years, her family hosted dinners for cadets on training at a nearby flight training facility, and through this she met James G. Mason, who became her husband on December 27, 1945. Her college education ended when Jim received deployment orders sooner than expected. He proposed by telegram, their wedding ceremony was put together on two weeks notice, and a few months later they were living in post World War II Europe. They experienced rather austere living conditions in many areas, but enjoyed seeing much of Turkey, Italy, France, Germany and Holland.
During Jim's 15 years of service in the Army Air Corps and then US Air Force, they lived in Texas, Arizona, Japan, Chicago and New York, and had sons Mark, Doug and John. In 1960 Jim left the service and the family moved to a home in Ben Lomond on the San Lorenzo River. They joined the Felton Presbyterian Church, where Cora was the organist for many years. She served on many committees and was a deacon in the church. She also enjoyed participating in garden club and other community activities.
In 1973, she and Jim moved to Bonny Doon to a home they built. They enjoyed living on the hill, gardening, chasing deer from the roses, and looking over the valley from their deck. Following Jim's death in 1981, she continued to live in Bonny Doon until 1996, when she moved to Scotts Valley. She enjoyed classical music, attended the Santa Cruz Symphony for many years, and served as a docent on the Symphony Home Tours. In 2007, health issues resulted in a move to Portland, OR, to be closer to family. She greatly appreciated the many cards, letters and visits from her friends and church family in the Santa Cruz area.
Cora is survived by son Doug Mason of Medford, OR, daughter-in-law Wendy Gere and grandsons Jared and Loren; son John Mason of Portland, OR, daughter-in-law Karen Mason and grandsons Ben and Pat; and her sister-in-law Margaret Janofsky, Margaret's husband Larry, and her nephews Seth and Aaron.
Services will be held at 2 p.m., Oct 9, at Felton Presbyterian Church, 6090 Highway 9, Felton. In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; Valley Churches United, 9400 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, CA 95005; or a charity of your choice that helps those in need.