Obituary for Bernice Lillian (Mason) Roebuck

January 3, 1924- May 16, 2020

Bernice was born in Hockinson, Washington, to Nancy and Albert Blankenship. She graduated from Onalaska High School in 1941, where she was the Valedictorian of her class, and also from the Centralia Business College in the same year. Bernice married Walter B. Mason on July 10, 1943, at the First Methodist Church, in Reno, Nevada, while he was furloughed, during World War II. They lived in Anchorage, Alaska, where he was in the Army Air Force, and she worked at Alaska Airlines as a payroll accountant. He gave her the nickname “Bunny,” which stayed with her the rest of her life.  They moved to Port Angeles, Washington, in 1946, where she resided until 2011.  She died peacefully at age 96 due to complications from dementia while under Hospice Care in Lakewood, Washington.  She was preceded in death by Walt Mason and also by Bob Roebuck whom she had married at age 81 in 2005.

Bunny worked for the First National Bank and then the Clallam County Department of Public Works as an administrative assistant. She was a Girl Scout Leader, a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, a Sunday School Teacher for the First United Methodist Church in Port Angeles, a voluntary reading tutor, a PTA President for Lincoln Elementary School, President of the Retired Public Employees Council, and a volunteer at Crestwood Convalescent Center. She also organized a “Politics Class” for seniors that was taught by a professor from Peninsula Junior College in Port Angeles. Bunny was interested in politics and education throughout her life, and fervently desired to see peace on earth. She loved the local newspaper and was a frequent contributor to “letters to the editor.” Active in the First United Methodist Women’s Council, she was also a Stephens Minister with the Methodist Church for over 7 years, caring for those going through tough times. While at Park View Villa’s Assisted Living Facility in 2010, she was President of the Resident’s Council.

Bunny wrote a book, “Where are we going? A Mother’s Faith.” She always had a wonderful vegetable and flower garden, and enjoyed canning. She was known not only for her apple pies, but also for her award-winning raspberry jam and her interest in photography.  She was especially interested in photographing people and was persistent in requesting that visitors pose for her. She is survived by her four children, Christine Mason, Carol Mason, Steve Mason, and Dave Mason, and her granddaughter Maria O’Connell Bonarrigo, and great grandsons Jack and Jason Bonarrigo, as well as two brothers, Bill and Buck Blankenship. In June 2019, her children and granddaughter gathered together to be with her as her dementia progressed.

A private ceremony was held on May 21 at the Mount Angeles Cemetery. Pastor Tom Steffen from the First United Methodist Church of Port Angeles officiated. The family requests that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the American Alzheimer’s Association, the First United Methodist Church in Port Angeles, or the Abundant Life Church in Lakewood, Washington.