Annie Kate (Kee) Mason of McKinney, Texas passed away on May 18, 2020 at the age of 89. She was born on August 18, 1930 to Robert Francis Kee and Gracie Durisoe Kee in Cherokee County, Texas. Ann graduated from Carlisle High School and then attended Kilgore Junior College. Ann married Col. James E. Mason on March 23, 1957 in San Antonio, Texas. Together, they lived the military lifestyle, moving all over the world, a role which Ann enjoyed as the Colonel’s Lady.
In 1970, Jim retired from the military and they bought a ranch in Bertram, Texas. Ann & Jim revived an old ranch house and property which was fondly named “Dad’s Dam Ranch.” She relished the life of a rancher’s wife, raising horses big and small and she resided there for the next 40+ years. Shortly after moving to Bertram, she tried to exercise her right to vote in the Republican primary, only to find out that not only that there wasn’t a republican primary; there was no Republican Party presence in Burnet County at all. This led to one of her great passions, politics, causing her to help create the Live Oak Republican Women’s Club, later becoming chairman of the Burnet County Republican Party, and culminated in her being named one of the Top Ten Republican Women in Texas several years later.
Another great passion of Ann’s was Genealogy. She shared this passion with her sister, Francis Sue and together they traveled extensively and researched the family tree. She established credentials to join several clubs which include: Descendants of Ancient Planters, Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution, US Daughters of 1812, and United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Ann’s last great passion was to be active in the community. She was an EMT for the Bertram Volunteer Fire Department; she was active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Bertram, member of local dance groups, to include square dancing and the parade Plungettes. Ann also loved to play dominoes at the senior center in Bertram.
She is survived by three children, Rodney Mason and wife, Vicki of McKinney, Texas, Michael Mason of Naples, Idaho and Patricia Wilson of Austin, Texas. Ann has four grandchildren, James Wilson and wife, Alyssa, Megan Wilson both of Austin, Texas, Evan Coleman and husband, Austin of Chesterfield, Virginia, and Kara Groneman and husband, Chris of Sydney, Australia. Plus the joy of her life, four great-grandchildren, Zoey, Zane, Zeth Coleman and Mason Wilson. She also leaves a sister, Francis Goodall; sister-in-law, Pauline Kee; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Col. James E. Mason; parents, Robert and Gracie Kee; brothers, Tommy, Robert, Victor, Charles, and Oliver Kee; sisters, Molly Kubasak and Margaret Hicks.
A private graveside service will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas 78209, where she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/