Karen Elizabeth Mason<br/>1936 - 2015

Karen Elizabeth Nelson was born February 16, 1936 in Los Angeles, CA to Maury and Kay Nelson. The younger sister of Maury (Jr.), Karen was raised in West Los Angeles and attended University High School before transferring to Newport Harbor High School as an upperclassman. There she met the love of her life, John “Denny” Mason. They graduated from Harbor in 1953 and were married on December 18, 1954.

Karen and Denny moved to Orange County and raised three children, Scott, Brett and Brynn before Denny unexpectedly passed away in 1971. A loving mother and avid sailor, Karen kept the family close by racing their Cal 25 “Charisma” as her children grew up. Karen went to work as a medical office manager, full service bookkeeper, then an Enrolled Actuary to support her family.

She continued her love of sailboat racing after her children were grown, and both family and friends have fond memories of Karen’s all female-crewed Santana 25 “Blueberry Muffin.” In 2000, Karen moved to Discovery Bay to live closer to her mother and daughter, and remained there until she passed on February 25, 2015.

Karen was extremely artistic and spent her retirement years building miniatures (models) from scratch. Her most ornate creations were two full size dollhouses complete with electricity and furnishings for each of her granddaughters. She was a loving mother to Scott and Karin Mason, Brett and Debbie Mason, and her baby Brynn Althar. Karen leaves behind grandchildren Allyson, Andrew, Hanna (Althar), Jonathan, Joshua, Joel, Josiah, Joseph, Joash, Jonas, and Taylor (Bunning). She was preceded in death by Maury, Kay, her beloved husband Denny and her brother Maury.

While her children miss her dearly, they are comforted knowing she is reunited with Denny. Family services are private, but there will be a celebration of life in June. No flowers please; remember Karen in your own way.

Karen is walking hand in hand with Denny again. That is all her children can ask. May God bless those whose time comes before ours.