With heavy hearts, the family of Florence Mason Roberts announces that she passed away at home on Januray 21, 2023.
Florence Mason was conceived near the end of January in 1928 at the Beottcher Hill Ranch ten miles west of Cowdrey, Colorado. After nine months there, she was born in Laramie, Wyoming on October 27, 1928. She spent the first 14 years of her life on the Hill Ranch with parents Horace and Lucy Mason, and siblings Robert and Ida Frances. Life on the ranch was one of homeschool, horses, snow, books, and piano music. Winters were isolated due to snow and mud, but summers were times of visits from extended families of Masons and Donelsons from North Park, Chicago, and beyond. She spoke fondly of her horse, Monk, which she rode around the country between Big Creek Lakes, Pearl, and Independence Mountain. She kept her saddle at home with her for her whole life.
In 1942, the family moved to Walden, Colorado house on McKinley Street. Florence attended eighth grade and graduated from high school in Walden. Some of her happiest memories were of those times and friends Mary Margret Cunningham and LaVerne Donohoe. They took the family dog Buster with them from the ranch. That dog became infamous around town for getting into dog fights, one time having hot water thrown on him by the barber.
After high school, she attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, graduating with a degree in Business. It was there that she met her future husband Richard Roberts while staying at the Bern Geer house. After graduation in 1950, she worked at the Equitable Life Assurance Company in Denver. She and Richard married in 1951 and by 1955 had two boys, Steve and Ron. In 1957 they moved into their house in north Denver where she lived the rest of her long, good life. She raised her sons, worked as a librarian, retired, cared for her aging parents, traveled, gardened, and grew old while living there.
Florence is survived by husband Richard, sister Ida Frances, sons Steve and Ron, grandsons Shane and James, and great grandchildren Murdoch, Von, and Margo (Mimi), and nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial will be held during the summer.
Florence was my beloved Aunt. I treasured her calm presence and beautiful countenance.
I was her caregiver and I cared for her very much I loved being part of her life and was so glad I was able to care for her and Dick. I miss her very much
Florence and Dick had season tickets to CU football games, and when the Steve and Ron didn’t want to go to the games we where invited to share Saturdays at the football games. We really enjoyed the games, we would tailgate, Big Red (Nebraska) was always exciting and lots of fun. We really enjoyed Florence and Dick, they were great people and lots of fun. Our kids grew up together Ronnie spent lots of time at our house. Florence and I would make our fruit cakes together, using her grandmother’s receipt . A great family. Love, Donna and Joe Blossom