1919 – 2016

CANTON — Dorothy “Dot” Mason passed away Friday evening, Sept. 23, at Pinnacle Health in Canton where she went after rehab for recent hip surgery.

Neé Dorothy Gayle Berry, she was born in Rumford to parents Erlon Berry and Harriet Savage Berry of Berry Mills (Carthage) on Dec. 15, 1919, and was a direct descendant of Thomas Berry, who settled the town in the early 1700s. She resided there for nearly 97 years, serving as town treasurer for 52 of them, and became a prominent and beloved citizen.

At the age of 4, Dorothy entered first grade and attended the bell-topped schoolhouse, now home to Carthage Historical Society, of which she was a founding member. Later, she commuted to Dixfield High School on the “stage,” a station wagon carrying mail and passengers for 50 cents a day, an expensive proposition at the time, but one for which her parents were willing to make hard sacrifices. She graduated in the Class of 1936 at the age of 16.

Dorothy was forever grateful for the generosity of her benefactor and summer employer, Gertrude “Gertie” Trask of Weld who paid her tuition to attend beauty school in Portland, where she earned her cosmetology degree. Several years later, Gertie provided her with the little log cabin in the center of Weld Village where Dot built a thriving hairstyling business for tourists and campers. Her clientele came to Weld from all over the country and became devoted friends and supporters of her many civic endeavors.

Dot married George Richard “Dick” Mason of North Turner in 1948 and soon thereafter purchased the little store in Carthage, Mason’s General Store, which she operated until 1974. Together they built a cottage on Lake Webb where the family enjoyed 52 summers. Dick died in 1980, a cancer survivor and honored World War II veteran who lovingly supported his wife’s passion for her businesses and many community involvements.

Over the years, numerous articles, awards, Maine legislative citations and tributes have been given in appreciation and acknowledgment of Dorothy’s untiring service to her community and surrounding towns and townspeople. Space limits listing them all, but among them are: Carthage town treasurer, chair of Carthage School Board, director of SAD 43, treasurer of Newman Cemetery Association, secretary/treasurer of Webb Lake Association, benefactor and member of Carthage Union Church, a founder of the Carthage Mothers Club, member of Webb River Grange, and vice president of Carthage Historical Society.

Dot leaves behind two daughters, Nancy (Dorr) Urbanski Mason of Westbrook and Patricia Child of Dixfield; nine grandchildren (named below); 18 great-grandchildren, Olivia and Lauren Rajhel, Hannah and Bennett Dorion, Dylan Mawhinney, William Dorr and Luke Hews, Abigail, Samuel and Jonathan Dorr, Kendall and Jaxon Dorr, Mason and Austin Child, Seth and Nathan Child, Logan and Timothy Child; one great-great-grandson, Lincoln Baldinelli.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy and former son-in-law, Warren Dorr, of Peru; four grandchildren, Cameron Dorr of Peru, Coreen Dorr of South Paris, Joshua Dorr of Alabama, and Jacob Dorr of Westbrook. She is also survived by three grandchildren, the children of daughter, Patricia and her former husband, Peter Child, of Florida, Eric, Ethan, and Aaron Child. Eric and Aaron reside in Florida and Ethan lives in nearby Dixfield.

Dorothy outlived her four siblings, Wendell Berry of Norway, Lucile Hammond Bradbury and Arlene Swett of Dixfield, and Beatrice Johnson of Canton. She was also predeceased by her husband, Dick; son, Larry Mason and his wife, Sandra Bennett Mason, of Rumford, who gave her two granddaughters, Cynthia Mason Rajhel of Texas and Cathy Mason Dorion of Dixfield.

When granddaughter Cathy posted the news of her grandmother’s passing on Facebook, it elicited hundreds of responses from readers eager to share their memories of “Grammy Dot.” Among the many heartwarming stories shared online that brought smiles and tears are memories of sitting in Dot’s beauty parlor getting ears pierced, haircuts and styles; the taste of her famous redskin peanuts hot from the store’s fryer; marveling at her tireless work ethic, her honesty and wisdom; the many weddings she performed as justice of the peace; and tales of her secret generosities.

To simply say she was loved, respected and admired seems trite and somewhat insufficient to those who feel the gaping void she leaves behind. It was once reported that when an out-of-stater called the post office for her address, the postmaster quipped: “Just write, ‘Dot 04224’ and she’ll get it.” A short address for a very long and beautiful legacy.