Gay Middleton Mason (Hurd)

Gay Middleton Mason, beloved wife of Frank N. Mason, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Her memorial service will be held in the Historic Church of Christ Church, 2304 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant, SC on Friday, February 14th at 2 o’clock pm. Gay was born in Charleston, SC, daughter of the late Arthur Middleton and the late Patience Hurd Middleton. She was artistically creative and loved flowers and birds. Gay used her gifts throughout her life, while raising her family. She began her career at Design 7 in Pittsburgh, PA and continued on to open her own needlepoint shop, “The Diagonal Tent” in West Chester, PA. After which, she worked as a designer for Jessa Needlecrafts International. Most recently, she started and managed the Brandywine Consignment Shop for the benefit of the Brandywine Hospital in Downingtown, PA for 13 years before moving back to Charleston. Gay’s passion was gardening and flower arranging. She was a long time member of the West Chester Garden Club and the Garden Club of America. She had the distinction of winning many blue ribbons at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Upon returning to Charleston, she continued this love of flowers through, as she called it, her “flower ministry.” Gay arranged flowers in the Historic Church of Christ Church, sharing her joy with her fellow eight o’clock-ers. Gay also gave her time to volunteering for Meals on Wheels and assisting in the Church office. She found fellowship in her Life Group and enjoyed spending time with her Church family. Gay is survived by her husband of 60 years: four children, Gay Corr and her husband Jim of Mt Pleasant, SC; three sons, Lemuel Mason and wife Maura of Louisville, KY, Frank Mason, Jr. of Winston-Salem, NC, Midd Mason and wife Nadine of Macungie, PA; three sisters, Sally Middleton Hawkridge and husband Robert of Chestertown, MD, Annely Middleton Hayes Klingensmith and husband Joseph of Mt Pleasant, SC, Hope Middleton Wood and husband William of West Chester, PA and Isle of Palms, SC; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Corr and boyfriend Brian Leounis (and grand dog Belle), Anna Runyen and husband Patrick, Colin Mason and wife Carrie, Hadley Mason, and Ross Mason; first great grandchild, Jack Henry Mason; many beloved nieces and nephews and their families; and dear friends Martha Clark and Ann Coggin. She is pre deceased by loving sister, Patience Middleton Hayden. She will be buried on a beautiful day at Magnolia Cemetery alongside her parents and paternal grandparents surrounded by flowers and feathered friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Church at 2304 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant, SC 29466 or The Center for Birds of Prey at 4872 Seewee Road, Awendaw, SC 29429. Arrangements by PALMETTO CREMATION SOCIETY, 11 Cunnington Ave., Charleston, SC 29405, (843) 722-2555. www.palmettocremationsociety.com