Ramona (Tullar) Mason

Ramona Mason, age 91, went to be with our Lord and Savior on August 12, 2020. She was born on November 18, 1928 in Barre, Vermont to Dorothea and Clyde Tullar. Ramona was known in her early years for her love of dance, she especially loved to jitterbug. She worked for the State of Vermont in personnel in Montpelier and Howard Bank in Montpelier and Barre for many years. 

Ramona was a glowing role model for the women in her family. She loved to golf and bowl as a hobby, and was consistently champion at horseshoes on Fourth of July gatherings. She and her husband Ron enjoyed going to concerts and ball games with Ron’s sister and brother-in-law Bernie and Shirley Clark. 
Ramona was known by her family for the love and good cooking that she shared with them. She was always there for them when there was need, and if she didn’t hear from them she would seek them out. She would travel to Newfoundland to visit her sister and family, and to Florida to visit her daughter and step daughters.  
Ramona spent the last years of her life with her daughter Serena in Florida, where she was visited by her Vermont loved ones. 

Ramona was preceded in death by her parents; spouse, Ronald Alpheus Mason of Washington, VT; her son, James Arnold Provost, Jr. of Barre, VT; her siblings, Hope Loraine Seymour of Newfoundland, Arnold Tullar of Northfield, VT, and Mary Gagne of Barre, VT; and her ex husbands, Henry Hector Grenier and James Arnold Provost, Sr.

She is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughters, Genevieve Garland Provost of Milton, VT and her spouse Lori H. Wright and Serena Grenier Filler of Crestview and her spouse Thomas P. Filler; her son, Henry Lee Grenier of Berlin, VT and his spouse Kathy Grenier; her daughter-in-law, Dorothy Anderson of Florida; her stepdaughters, Yvonne Penninger of Pace, FL and her spouse Barry Penninger and Judith Harvey of Milton, FL; her grandchildren, Kaley Marie Grenier of Graniteville, VT and Darcy Lee Grenier of Northfield, VT; her step grandchildren, Jeff Thurston, Stephanie Compolito, Heather Neilson, and Dean Harvey; and her great-grandchildren, Carel Norman Paquin, Nicholas Scott Allen, Cameron Lee Allen, and Logan James Allen.

A memorial service with the family will be held on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Crestview, FL with Father Roy Marien officiating.

The family asks that if you come to the services that you practice social distancing in family groups and that you wear a mask or face covering while at the service. Ramona loved the staff at Carington Manor and would not want to be the cause of spreading COVID to any of her friends there. While we yearn to love and hug on each one of you individually, there will be no formal visitation to limit the risks that are present at this time.

Ramona loved flowers, but also suffered from Parkinson’s. Donations made to The Parkinson’s Foundation in her name.  1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636)

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst-Powell Funeral Home in Crestview.  Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

Eulogy:

Thank you everyone for sharing in this Celebration of Life for my Mom, Ramona Mason. Her life was full of joy and sorrow, and we feel truly blessed to have shared in her journey. Throughout her life she strove to be more whenever more was needed… for her workplace, for her friends, and most of all for her family. Mom inspired us to be our best self by example. When she didn’t hear from us, she would seek us out. When my brother (her son) Jimmy, and her brother Arnold were dying of Cancer she was there every day for months, giving care and support. She was dauntless in the face of setbacks, instinctively having the Faith to move forward. She would use the term “general direction” while giving just the nudge necessary to get things back on track.

Even through her torment with Parkinson’s, she wanted to live and get better. This was hardest on her, knowing and accepting that her path was not one to recovery, and that her mind was not her own.

I remember the day she said to me “Maybe I am crazy… What have I done to my friends? They have been nothing but good to me.” She was speaking of the wonderful staff at Carington Manor.

We thank you, Carington staff, from the bottom of our hearts for your loving care. She struggled every day to survive on her own terms and did not make it easy on you. Still, you loved her dearly, and we love you for it.

Her Daughter-in-law Kathy had this to say on her passing, and it was spot on:

Some people don’t get along with their mother in laws, but I cherished mine.  Loved her right from the start. 

She was beautiful, and talented… in the garden, in her kitchen, in her work, at her crafts. 

She was spunky, resourceful, opinionated and fun loving.

She was the best wife, grandma and great grandmother as well! 

Her home was my home-safe-home.

She was the storm and the calm...

She had a great presence, and it’s hard to believe she could ever be gone. 

Mom, enjoy Ron, Jimmy and all our loved ones in heaven!

I hope you dance!”

In her last week, Mom was unresponsive and sleeping comfortably. While I was there, I played musical suggestions, some from her Sister-in-law Shirley, whom she accompanied to many concerts in their day. I read her family messages of love and hope for her passing. In her sleep, she enjoyed phone calls with family members and a final visit from her Step-daughter Yvonne.  

Monday, Mom rallied for a few waking hours, and we jumped at the chance for some family calls and last goodbyes. She was unable to speak but was listening with all her heart. She heard beloved voices from her son Henry to her youngest great-grandson Logan. She heard news of granddaughter Kaley’s pregnancy and listened intently to granddaughter Darcy’s tales of trouble and loss. Carington’s Elena brought her a last “Mighty Shake”, which she enjoyed, then she returned to a deep and peaceful sleep with a tear in the corner of her eye.

Tuesday afternoon, I was playing some more music including Johnny Cash, I Walk the Line, followed by Folsom Prison Blues. To my surprise, Mom was vigorously mouthing “I HEAR THAT TRAIN A COMING… COMING DOWN THE TRACK…” in her sleep. A little later that afternoon, she was channeling Whitney Houston singing How Great Thou Art! This is with full angelic effect - in her dream that was her voice! That’s when I knew she was ready to go home to God.

Mom, we pray you are at peace in the shining presence of God. We hope you are playing golf and bowling with Pa. We hope you are hugging your departed loved ones. We hope you are walking the line with Johnny, and singing with Whitney. And from our hearts, we hope you dance!                

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ramona (Tullar) Mason, please visit our floral store.