MARY LEE REES

MARY LEE (MASON) REES Age 76, of Redlands passed away, at her home on September 11, 2010. An Order of the Eastern Star Memorial Service is planned for 11:00 A.M., Monday, September 20th, at Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel in Redlands (703 Brookside Ave.) with a Viewing from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. prior to the service and a reception following the service at the Redlands Masonic Temple. Mary was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1933. As the daughter of a military officer she lived throughout the United States and Okinawa, before graduating from high school in 1951. She graduated from Indiana's Teacher's College and moved to San Bernardino, California, for a teaching job at Marshall Elementary School in 1956, where she worked for several years. She met Holly Edward Rees Jr. in 1958, and they were married on June 18, 1960. The couple made their home in Redlands shortly afterwards, and lived there for over 50 years. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2002. She also worked as a substitute teacher in Redlands Elementary schools for many years, served as Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop #567 for many years, and served as Bethel Guardian for Jobs Daughters Bethel #104 for several years. She was a member and Past Worthy Matron of Gate City Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, a member of Copa del Oro OES, a Past Worthy High Priestess of Redlands White Shrine, a member of San Gorgonio White Shrine, and a member of Victory Court Amaranth in San Bernardino. She will be missed and is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Rees Cavagnari; and grandson, Antonio Rees Cavagnari of Scott Valley, California; her daughter, Megan Elizabeth Oyes; and granddaughter, Kelly Oyes of San Bernardino; and her son, Edward Allen Rees of Portland, Oregon. In addition, her extended family includes her brother, George Mason Jr.; her cousin, John Mason, and both of their families in Indiana; her caregiver of more than ten years, Elizabeth Pierce and her family, and all of her extended Masonic family members. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospitals for Children (www.shrinershq.org) or the Masonic Home Society (www.masonichome.org).