Betty Mason

January 25, 1929 - May 23, 2018

"Mommy" passed away quite suddenly on May 23, 2018 in Sequim, WA. She left us early in the morning on a bright sunlit, blue-sky morning shortly after rising and, as always, she was on her feet and walking, but collapsed suddenly, passing within the hour. Betty spent the previous day with family, again enjoying an activity she loved; a drive in the country on a beautiful Spring day. Betty was preceded in death by parents Arthur and Louise Schlicting, husband Walt Rumble, second husband Ralph Mason, grandson Timothy Jacobson, and only brother Dana Schlicting. After years of snowbirding and socializing across the North American Continent, Walt and Betty Rumble were true Arizonans, never looking back to their Northern California roots except for a rare short visit. They began snowbirding even before fully retired, claiming a Quartzite ‘spot’ for quite a while. When they upgraded their travel to a greyhound bus they had converted and christened “Why Not,” they traveled for ten wonderful years, with Quartzite as their first Arizona home base, then Yuma Foothills. After Walt’s death when Betty was 52, she chose to remain in her beloved Arizona and kept “Why Not,” and once Betty even drove solo all the way to Washington State… Why Not? One day she had a visitor to her Foothills property looking for a bus for sale, it wasn’t “Why Not” for sale, but those bus questions opened a new chapter for Betty with her not-too-long-thereafter second husband, Ralph Mason, a former bus driver. After Ralph came into Betty’s life they shared many more years of traveling while also buying and selling several properties, eventually finding one in Tacna they couldn't bear to sell and transforming it into their own personal Arizona desert paradise. They both spent much of their time giving to their community, volunteering with Yuma Sheriff's Department and being a good friend to all, then spending their Christmas time and money in Mexico, hauling gifts down there for children. And toys aren't just for children... they loved playing with their cars... They were active in the local hot rod community and restored many classics over the years, enjoying Midnight at the Oasis, also enjoying trips to Talladega and other races. Years later, at nearly the same moment Betty's 2nd great grandchild was being born in Washington State, Ralph passed away peacefully at their Tacna home under hospice care on December 8th, 2001 and in honor of that, on the 8th this year we are also having Betty's memorial in Tacna so her ashes can be scattered alongside Ralph's on the property they shared and loved. Betty maintained her volunteering and giving spirit through all the years, even donating her beloved Tacna property to the Arizona Game and Fish Department upon her passing. More than half of Betty's life was spent exploring every area of this great state and volunteering anywhere she saw a need; BLM, Yuma Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Game and Fish, any kind of archaeological or historical organizations that needed help, or ANYONE who she saw in need, Betty was there, especially if it could help kids or animals. She loved collecting rocks and, it would seem, collecting awards. She had a whole set's worth of “volunteer of the quarter” engraved mugs over the years, a volunteer of the year award ceremony, numerous plaques and certificates, and an adopt-the-highway sign for cleaning litter in Tacna (and anywhere she found it!). To know her was to know what an amazingly giving woman she was. Betty is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law Linda Suzanne Eubanks (Gary), Sandra Leslie Jacobson (Chris), and Laurene Adele Lavender (Scott), her grandchildren Reuben, John, Rachael, Daniel, Gregory and Nicolas and her four great-grandchildren Kelly, Lillian, Timothy John, and Elizabeth, and two nephews Steve and Bruce Schlicting. Also included here is her Tacna guardian angel, Kenny Followell, as Betty called him ''The son she never had.'' In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either The American Cancer Society or any Alzheimer organization of your choosing. Let's remember together our amazing VERY DEARLY LOVED one, Betty Laurene Schlicting Rumble Mason. Memorial to be held Noon to 5PM on 12/8/2018 at 7350 South Avenue 40E, Tacna. Bring your stories and a potluck dish to share if you'd like. Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun