Doris Irene Mason

Doris Irene (Parlin) Mason Athens Doris Irene Parlin was born on February 21, 1919 in Athens Michigan to Everett & Nettie (Broas) Parlin. Doris graduated from the Mercy School of Nursing in Detroit Mi in 1939. She then worked at Leila Hospital in Battle Creek until she married Wm E Mason in 1948. The couple set up housekeeping in Imlay City Mi where they lived for their entire married life and where she and Bill raised their family of three children: Jeanette Mason of Traverse City Mi, John Mason of Saline MI, and Linda Mason of Audubon, NJ. Doris returned to nursing in the late 50s at the Almont community Hospital where she was the chief operating room nurse until she retired in 1980. Doris was an active member of the Imlay City community. She helped organized the annual Fiesta as a money raiser for the hospital in Almont. Doris also gave willingly and generously of her time to the First Congregational Church of Imlay City; (Currently United Church of Christ) Here she helped organize the Congregators who made significant contributions to the Church including the huge Christmas tree with handmade Christian symbols as ornaments. (Chrisms) Doris's contributions also include mother daughter banquets, pot luck dinner, and raising money for the church's pantry. Doris and Bill received an award for their contributions to the church during their tenures. A Girl Scout leader for 25 five years, Doris helped hundreds of young women to grow. This took a variety of faces: Doris taught Red Cross First Aid for many years to the Girl Scout of Imlay City. She provided opportunities for girls to go to the National Girl Scout Round-Up, to travel through Europe, to go camping, and to help them become contributing members of society. Even after retirement Doris continued to work with the church and Girl Scouts but also helped to establish the 4 County Associations, a group that worked toward preventative care for those unable to access traditional health care. Doris was the first woman in the Imlay City Rotary Club to earn the Paul Harris Award. The local Rotary sponsored her for this honor. She was very proud of this award. In 2004 Doris and Bill moved into an assisted living community in Ann Arbor, near her son, John and his family. There too, Doris was active. She took classes offered by a U of M professor. She volunteered to work w/ students of all agessometimes University students who were doing studies of effects of medicine on different groups of people. Most recently she worked with some 8th graders to learn what life was like in the 1930s. In addition to her three children, she is survived by daughter in law Nancy G. Mason and two grandsons, Matthew William and Michael John Mason. Gifts of remembrance can be channeled through the Spencer Funeral Home or directly to the two groups who supported her and her family throughout her 93 years; the Imlay City United Church of Christ 275 Bancroft St, Imlay City, MI 48444 or to University Living Assisted Living Home ATTN: Barb Excel ED, 1865 S. Main, Ann Arbor MI 48103. The church provided her support and comfort during the first 65 years of her life. During these last eight years both she and Bill received such love, joy, care and compassion from the caregivers at UL. We consider them as part of our family. Services will be held Saturday the 10 of Sept 2011 at Spencer Family Funeral Home in Athens Mi. Visitation will be from 12:30pm to 2pm at Spencer Family Funeral home, funeral service immediately following with Diane Smith, M.Div., Bcc Chaplin officiating. Those wishing to may join the family for the interment at the Burr Oak Cemetery. She will be interred next to her husband of over 50 years William E. Mason. The family extends an invitation to join them for a light lunch at the Athens Methodist Church after the internment. Arrangements by Spencer Family Funeral Home, Athens. www.spencerfamilyfuneralhome.com