Juanita 'Nita' Mason, 91

Juanita (Nita) Mason was born Dec. 17, 1933, to Flavis Allen and Catherine Ada (Griffin) Wilson in San Pedro, Calif. As a young child with a father in the military, she lived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Annapolis, Md., and Brooklyn, N.Y. When World War II began, Nita’s father brought her mother, Katie, sister Margaret, and Nita back to San Pedro, where they lived with her grandparents for many years. Nita’s parents eventually divorced, and she was raised by a single mother supported by her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, spending her summers roller skating and long days at the beach. She attended Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School and St Anthony High School.

Nita met her husband, Harold Lutz, at a USO dance, and they were married eight months later in 1957. They had two daughters, Cindy and Anna Marie, and in 1969, the family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. After the move, Nita worked for Montgomery Ward before taking a job with GTE, where she worked until her retirement in 1991. Nita and Hal later divorced.

In 1981, Nita met John Mason, and after four years of dating, they married in 1985. They enjoyed many years as members of Christ the King Lutheran Church, River City Garden Club, square dancing with the Coeurly Q’s and Jacks and Jennys, traveling to England, Ireland, and Scotland, and across the U.S. to the Miner family reunions (John’s family tree), reunions with Nita’s high school classmates, camping at their property on the Cd'A River, antiquing, and gardening.

Nita was famous for her Christmas cookies and fudge, needlepoint and blankets, but she loved most of all being a grandma to four granddaughters and later a great-grandma to great-granddaughters and (finally!) great-grandsons. 

Nita was preceded in death by her husband, John; sister Margaret; and brother-in-law Vern Bradshaw; other family members in Ridgecrest, Calif.; and her mom and beloved stepfather, Katie and Jimmy Ford. She is survived by her daughter, Cindy, and husband Wade Edington of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; daughter Anna M. and husband Larry Richards of Gresham, Ore.; granddaughters Katie and husband Tysen Graves of Hauser, Idaho; Jenny and husband Matt Whaley of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Jillian Scheer, Emily Scheer and Alex Richards of Gresham; great-granddaughters Casey Whaley and Avery Whaley; and great-grandsons Roper Graves, Rowdy Graves and Hudson Kyllonen; step-grandson, Devon Stilson of Boise and her goddaughter, Margaret Harper of San Pedro, Calif.

The memorial service will be Friday, May 2, at 2 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church at 1700 E. Pennsylvania, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, take a moment to reconnect with family or friends who have a special place in your heart.

Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Home. www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.