Mason

         Owen Andrew “Ode” Mason, son of Joseph Daniel and Martha (Hannon) Mason, was born on March 24, 1883, at Melrose, Monroe Co., IA.  Joanna Jenette “Josie” Waugh was born April 21, 1886, near Ottawa in Clarke Co., IA, daughter of Charles Stewart and Mary Florence (Larkin) Waugh.  (See also James Ambrose Waugh – her brother).  Josie moved to the LeRoy area at age twelve.  On March 21, 1906, Ode and Josie were married in Clarke County.  To this union were born ten children:  Fern, Cleo, Raymond, Inez, Mabel, Virgil, Floyd, Glenn, Clifford, and Ivan.  During World War II, four of their sons were in service at the same time. 

            Ode ran a livery barn in Lucas, Iowa, but later turned to farming.  Josie was a homemaker and helped on the farm and to raise the family.  They moved to the Woodburn area in March of 1922 and lived southwest across the railroad tracks, to what was the Elisha O’Neall farm.  They later bought a farm north of this farm (currently where the Trout earth home is).  Josie was a member of the Woodburn Christian Church and belonged to the Ladies’ Aid.  Many members of the community fondly remember her as “Grandma Josie”.  Ode passed away on June 8, 1957, and Josie on February 25, 1975.  They are both buried at the Woodburn Cemetery.

children of Ode and Josie Mason

Floyd "Johnny",  Raymond, Glenn "G.O.", Virgil "Duck", Clifford "Punch", Ivan

Fern [DeVore], Inez [Manley], Mabel [Frizzell], Cleo [O'Neall]

Cleo, Clifford, Fern, Floyd, Mabel, Virgil, Inez

Raymond, Glenn, Josie, Ode, Ivan

Clifford "Punch", Stan, Steve and Mary Lou (Wright) Mason

          Clifford Dwight “Punch” Mason was born on November 27, 1923, in Clarke County, Iowa, the son of Ode and Josie (Waugh) Mason.   He married Mary Lou Wright on October 25, 1947, in Leon, Iowa.  Mary Lou was born February 1, 1929, the daughter of James Kenneth “Colonel” and Mildred Mae (Miller) Wright.   They both graduated from Woodburn High School. Clifford enlisted in the Navy in 1943 in Des Moines and was honorably discharged in 1946.  

            Clifford owned a grocery store in Woodburn in the late 1940’s.  He played ball with the Woodburn softball team of the 1950’s.  Mary Lou was a cook for the Woodburn schools and many of us remember the wonderful meals that she prepared.   Clifford worked for the Clarke County Engineer’s Office as a surveyor.   They lived in Woodburn all of their married life.  Their membership is with the Woodburn Christian Church.    Clifford is a member of the Masonic Lodge and American Legion at Woodburn.  Mary Lou died on April 7, 1974, and is buried at the Woodburn Cemetery.  Clifford now resides in Osceola and enjoys attending church in Woodburn and other Woodburn functions.   Their children are Stephen Edward "Steve" and Stanley Edwin "Stan".