Alison Elizabeth Mason
July 18, 1950 – October 19, 2020
Age 70 of Minneapolis. Alison Elizabeth Mason, born July 18, 1950 to Warren Burt Mason and Margery Irene (Livingstone) Mason, passed away on October 19, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN, where she had resided since 2015. She is survived by her daughters and their spouses Mariah Williams (Dave Williams) and Aurora Young (Jon Stenseth), her grandson Warren Strootman, her siblings Laura Mason (Steve Sessions) and Scott Mason (Kristin Mason), her niece Sarah Sessions (Ray Sandifer), her nephews Evan Mason (Ashley Mason), Alex Mason (Kaity Mason), and Zack Sessions, and her grandniece and four grandnephews. Alison grew up in Grand Rapids, MI and graduated from East Grand Rapids High School. She moved in the early 1970’s to the mountains of CO where her daughters were born. Alison returned to MI to get her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State College in Art Therapy. She then headed back west, living for short periods in NM and AZ before settling in Southern California where she worked at Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Food Markets. Alison returned to MI once again in 1986, moved to the country, remarried and became a businesswoman, building and running a small family business. She traveled as much as time and resources allowed, visiting friends throughout the US and Europe, vacationing in Mexico and teaching English in Spain. The accomplishment she was most proud of, however, was going back to school after she turned 50 to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. After graduation from nursing school, Alison worked with heart patients at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.
Alison, Al, Ali Cat, Alimay, Aunt Ali, the list of nicknames goes on, was a unique character with a free spirit and a good sense of humor. She was generous, outspoken, creative, interested in travel, food, different cultures, history, and art. Everyone who knew her can probably share one, if not dozens, of funny stories about Alison’s adventures, and often mishaps. She was a great cook, a talented artist, an avid reader and unabashed fan of cooking shows, Tik Tok, word games, and bad reality TV. She went through life with a passion for new experiences and adventures. She stayed up on the latest trends and never lost interest in the world around her. She loved animals of all kinds and they loved her back, following her everywhere waiting for the treats she surreptitiously dispensed. Most of all, Alison loved her family and the friends she met during the different phases of her life and careers. She was especially proud of her daughters and her grandson. Her beautiful smile, strong opinions, and her laughter
will be greatly missed. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. (Published in the Grand Rapids Press on November 15, 2020)