Varna J. Mason was born in Aurora, Utah and raised on her father, Willard R. Johnson's, cattle ranch with her three brothers and sister, one of whom, her twin brother, Vernon, is still surviving.
After completing two years of college at the BYU, she married Grant W. Mason in the Manti Temple on May 30, 1934. When her husband left for the Second World War in 1941, she worked as a successful buyer at ZCMI while shouldering full responsibility for bringing up a family. During these years she was chosen to head many war bond drives which turned out to be the most successful in Utah. When her husband returned in 1945 she gave up her highly promising career and assumed the role of the wife of an army officer, which she carried out with equal vigor and the same degree of success. During 30 years of army life in the US and Europe she held many important positions in women's organizations while carrying out full church responsibilities and raising a family.She is survived by daughters Gloria Betts (Garland, Texas), Constance Bennett (Encino, California) and Catherine Stevens (Salt Lake City, Utah) and their families. Her husband, Grant, died on September 9, 1994 after a short illness.
Varna Johnson Mason will be remembered as a wonderful mother, a witty and reliable friend, a devoted wife and companion, and a tower of moral and spiritual strength, upon which we all leaned. That was the way she was, always there for everybody, asking nothing in return. We rejoice in her quick reunion with her husband in the hereafter. It is as it should be.
Private family services will be held Monday, December 19, 1994 at 1:00 p.m. in the Wasatch Lawn Mausoleum, where she will be interred alongside her beloved husband of 60 years, Grant W. Mason.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Joseph's Villa Nursing Home, 475 East Ramona Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Funeral directors, Wasatch Lawn Mortuary.
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