Eloise Maggard Mason

Eloise was a world traveler who loved planning trips, was a lifelong lover of reading, and in her last years, was quite the painter. She is survived by her sister, Gayle Dixon, son Keith Mason, daughter Karen Mason Bernal(Rudy), granddaughters Alexa Bernal and Kaitlin Bernal Jesmer(Jeremy), and great grandsons Mason and Nathaniel Kirk.

Eloise was born on April 13, 1934 to Coy and Maude Thomas Maggard in Cinda, Kentucky. After her father's death when she was a young child, her mother moved and worked as a school teacher. Her mother later remarried and had Eloise's sister and partner in crime, Gayle. Eloise graduated from Litton High School in Nashville, Tennessee in 1951.The family later settled in Mobile Alabama, where she met her future husband, Walter, while working at Brookley AFB.

Eloise married Walter Mason on June 18, 1955 after an Easter Sunday proposal. They lived with his mother, Katie until their house was built. They had Karen in 1956 and Keith in 1960. In 1965,Walter was transferred to Kelley AFB in San Antonio Texas where they have lived since. Eloise raised her family and returned to work when Karen started college. She worked at USAA and took classes at UTSA. She then began working at Kelley AFB. She worked in the commissary and later taught computer classes at Kelly, often traveling to other bases to teach. She cared for Walter during his illness until his death on August 4, 1991. She continued working and then cared for her mother when she moved to San Antonio until her death in 2000. Eloise retired from Kelley in 2001

On the first family trip after Walter's death to Manzanillo, Mexico in 1992, Eloise caught the travel bug and became a world traveler, planning trips each year to countries all over the world. She took both granddaughters on many memorable vacations, traveled with her sister, and took many trips with her son. She para sailed, snorkeled, hiked and cruised. She treated her entire family to an amazing trip to Hawaii, a trip to England/France/Switzerland/Italy, and to Ecuador/Galapagos islands/Peru. She shared her time share in Cancun with the family as well. Her travels ended in 2018 with declining health but she always remained an explorer at heart. She is now with her Lord and Savior and no longer trapped in a body that couldn't hold her dauntless spirit.

Eloise will be laid to rest next to her beloved Walter at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama during a private family service March 11,2023.

Donations can be made in her name to any of her favorite charities:

Food Bank of San Antonio

Meals on Wheels San Antonio

Habitat for Humanity San Antonio