Sharon L. Mason

August 7, 1940 - May 6, 2021

Sharon Mason, 80 Kearney resident Sharon L. Mason, 80 of Kearney passed away Thursday, May 6, 2021 at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at Kearney First United Methodist Church with Pastor Melody Adams and Pastor Laura Stubblefield officiating. Inurnment will take place at Kearney Cemetery. Sharon was born August 7, 1940 in Kearney, Nebraska to Glen and Marian (Mougey) Wisch. She loved growing up in Kearney. She attended and was confirmed at Faith United Methodist Church. On August 24, 1963 she married Gary Mason, who she met while they were students at Kearney State College. Together they raised three daughters. Sharon and Gary lived in Hildreth, NE, Park Forest, IL, Columbus, OH and Wichita, KS before returning to Kearney in 1979. Sharon took an active part in her children’s school, athletics and church activities, delighting in their time together. She later got to enjoy and participate in the lives of her 5 grandchildren. She and Gary liked to travel and were able to tour England, Israel, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Hawaii, Alaska and Scotland. Sharon considered Estes Park her “second home” traveling there almost every summer or fall during her lifetime, first as a young child, then after her marriage. For the past ten years she was also able to spend a few months each winter in Sun City, AZ. She was a lifelong reader and always had a book in her hand. Sharon graduated from Kearney High School in 1958, Kearney State College in 1962, and received an MA in Library Sciences from the University of Denver in 1963 and an MA from Wichita State University in 1978. Always a great believer in the power of education, Sharon was very happy to say that her husband had his PhD and each of her three children had their Master’s Degrees. Sharon began working as a high school student serving parties at the Fort Kearney Hotel. Her library career began as a student worker in 1956 at the Kearney Public Library. She held professional librarian positions at the Ohio State University Libraries, Wichita State University Library and the University of Nebraska at Kearney at Calvin T. Library, retiring in 2006. She was a life member of the American Library Association and was a past president of the Nebraska Library Association, and the College and University Section of NLA. She received distinguished service awards from both groups. Sharon served as a counselor for the ALA Council and she was a board member and officer for the State Advisory Council on Libraries and Meridian Library Systems. She was a frequent presenter at State, National and International library organizations. She was on the Buffalo County Historical Society Board, serving as Treasurer, Secretary, and President and was on the United Campus Ministry Board for many years. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma honorary fraternity and Delta Zeta Sorority. She was a volunteer in the MONA Gift Shop for several years after she retired. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was involved with United Methodist Women. She taught Sunday School and was the Church Librarian for many years. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Gary Mason of Kearney; daughters, Carrie Jo (Kyle) Fairbairn, Laurie Beth (Shane) Schramm and Julie Ann Mason all of Omaha; grandchildren, Mason Fairbairn, Case Fairbairn, Luke Schramm, Taylor Schramm and Jake Schramm; siblings, Roger (Vicki) Wisch of Richmond Hill, GA, David (Charlotte) Wisch of Lincoln and Cynthia (Larry) Marrow of Lincoln; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents. Memorials are suggested to Kearney First United Methodist Church Library, United Campus Ministry (UNK) or the Buffalo County Historical Society. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.