Helen Elizabeth Abney Mason, born Nov. 27, 1919 in Beatrice, to Rupert Oswell Abney and Nan Suber Abney, died Wednesday, June 24, 2009 in Houston after a lengthy illness.
Her husband, Robert G. Mason, was postmaster of Fairhope from the mid-1950s until 1976 and with her constant support, indulgence and perserverance, moonlighted by remodeling and building many houses in Fairhope, including the family home on Mobile Bay.
Her door was always open and her greatest joys came when family and friends gathered at her home on the bay and she could cook up a big batch of gumbo or fried mullet and hushpuppies after a long day of fishing, swimming and occasionally jubileeing at the bay.
Getting your name on their jubilee call list was a special honor, and even if that call came at 2 a.m. you’d best show up if you wanted to be assured of getting another call for the next jubilee.
She was a longtime member of the Fairhope United Methodist Church where she was a member of one of the women’s circle groups. A few times a year, after hours of practice and preparation during the week, she played piano in a duet with the church organist at Sunday service.
She was preceded in death by her husband; and a lifelong menagerie of Peggys, Muffits, Lulus, Dumdums, Caesars and Crickets.
Survivors include three children, Robert G. “Butch” (Mary D. “Denny”) Mason of Fairhope, Mitchell L. “Mitch” (partner Sabrina) Mason of Fairhope, and Julie M. (Victor W.) DeMaria of Magnolia, Texas; brother, Louis Oswell Abney of Birmingham and his four children; and six grandchildren, FCCS W. Shane Mason, serving with the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf Theatre, his wife and three children; Emily DeMaria Nicola, her husband and three sons, of Austin, Texas; and Mark A. DeMaria of Austin; and one Pepper.
A memorial service will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Church Street Inn, 51 S. Church St., Fairhope. Interment will be at the Fairhope Single Tax Cemetery.
