Shirley Anne (Probasco) Mason
October 15, 1934 – October 17, 2014

Shirley Anne (Probasco) Mason, 80 of Melissa, Texas, formerly of Glenwood, Missouri passed away on Friday, October 17, 2014 in the home she shared with her son, James Mason, after a long battle with lung cancer.

Born on October 15, 1934 on the Probasco family farm in Appanoose County in Moulton, Iowa, she was the daughter of Noah C. and Lena Myrtle (McCullough) Probasco.

On May 10, 1957 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, Shirley was united in marriage to Jimmy Joe Mason and to this union three children were born, Debra Jean, James David and John Daniel.

Survivors include her three children, Debra Jean Mason-Leunen and husband, Johnny Joe of Lancaster, Missouri, James David Mason of Melissa, Texas and John Daniel Mason and wife, Dolores of Little Rock, Arkansas; 2 grandchildren, Donnie and Angie McElhaney; one sister-in-law, Merna Laurel Probasco of rural Coatsville, Missouri; many nieces and nephews and other family members.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jimmy Joe Mason on June 23, 2004; 2 brothers, James Hugh Probasco and David Clayton (Bill) Probasco; 4 sisters, Cena Lois Probasco Trimble Jay, Betty Jane Probasco Witt, Dorothy May Probasco Harcrow and Lola Fay Probasco Gould Gibson.

Shirley moved west with her parents to Tucson, Arizona at the age of 12. She graduated from Tucson High School. After marriage, Shirley and Jim resided in California briefly before moving back to Tucson, Arizona where they remained for 35 years. Shirley was a housewife and mother. She devoted her life to caring for her husband and three children. In later years, Shirley and Jim returned to the midwest and enjoyed their rural home on Gospel Ridge in Glenwood, Missouri for nearly 10 years. Shirley loved wildlife and flowers. She spent many pleasant afternoons working in her garden in the locust grove accompanied by her cats. In 2003, due to illness, Shirley and Jim moved to Texas with their son, James and loving cat, "Callie", Shirley's constant companion for 17 years.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Coatsville Cemetery in Coatsville, Missouri with Sonny Smyser, Pastor of the Schuyler County Church of Faith officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be John Leunen, Ron Gould, Bob Harcrow, Dennis Probasco, Ronnie Honeysuckle and Miguel Vivar. Memorials have been established for Alley Cat Allies. Burial will be in the Coatsville Cemetery in Coatsville, Missouri. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster, Missouri.