Verna Lee White Mason
Verna Lee White Mason, 82, passed from this life to the next on April 30, 2016, in the presence of her family. She was born Sept. 28, 1933, in Mina, N.Y., the daughter of James Lee and Gertrude White.
A graduate of Sherman Central School, Verna was a lifelong learner and she used that learning to be many things in her life: a loving wife and mother, dairy farmer, artist and owner of the Unicorn Antique Shop at Chautauqua. Her wood carvings include the giant shields that welcome you to Peek’n Peak and a depiction of Jonah in the belly of the whale at Edwards Chapel Church.
She married Harold “Rod” Mason on April 21, 1951, and they designed and made custom jewelry as jeweler to the Unicorn. They were among founding members of the Chautauqua Craft Alliance. Verna was also a member of the Minerva Club.
She is survived by two brothers: Jack Dean of Wesfield, N.Y., and Edwin Dean of Salem, Ore.; and a sister, Dorothy Hall of Westfield, N.Y.; a daughter, Kathleen (Stanley) Tenpas of North Clymer, N.Y.; two sons: Mark (Lucy) Mason of Sherman, N.Y., and William (Gaye) Mason of Westfield, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Rod, who died in March of 2011; a grandson, Ben Mason who died in April of 2011; and a grandson- in-law, Adam Murphy who died in May of 2013.
As Verna has donated her body to the University of Buffalo Medical School and at her request, there will be no funeral, but she asks that friends and family each do something that they have always wanted to do in her memory. The family will gather at a later date.
It is suggested that memorials be made to the Alexander Findley Community Library of Findley Lake, N.Y., or Hospice of Chautauqua County, N.Y., or the Stanley Hose Fire Department of Sherman, N.Y.