CATHY MASER

CATHY MASER October 19, 1935 ~ December 31, 2022
Catherine Margaret Maser (nee Grage), formerly of Medicine Hat, passed away at the Legacy Lodge in Lethbridge, AB., on December 31, 2022, at the age of 87 years. She was predeceased by her husband, Marvin Philip Maser in May of 2015, after 60 years of marriage. Cathy was born in Maple Creek, SK., on October 19, 1935, and was taken home to the Grage ranch two miles south of the Cypress Hills Park where, as she grew, she enjoyed working with her mother Hellen (Nell) doing chores, haying, fencing, etc. Her father, Fred who was blind, helped Cathy with her correspondence courses until a school was started first in the Grages’ sitting room, then later a schoolhouse was built across the highway. For Junior High, Cathy stayed in a private home in Maple Creek then to a dormitory and finally finished high school by riding a bus driven by Leo Bryan. It was during the last years of school that an oil well was drilled up the meadow by Red Palmer (Arctic Oil Company) and he called the well, Cathy Grage #1; with the hope that when oil was struck there would be well #2, etc., but only water and a little gas was found. Cathy always grew up with the idea of just living on the ranch and being a cowgirl her mother had other ideas, so she was sent to Moose Jaw Teachers College where her sister, Helen had just graduated. When Helen and her friend Phillip Flaig came to visit her in Moose Jaw, they brought Marvin Maser along – and you know the rest of the story… followed by two years of teaching at Newheim School, marriage, children, handicrafts, sewing, embroidery and stamp collecting. When Cathy’s great uncle Henry left her some money, the happy couple were able to purchase their first house in Medicine Hat on 12th Street SE eventually upgraded to a house on 12th Street NW. When Marvin decided to quit his job and start Masers Appliance Service, Cathy went back to teaching first at St. Louis School in Medicine Hat, then Parkside in Redcliff and finally to Seven Persons School. The family moved from Medicine Hat to a farm at Seven Persons and finally built their dream home on an acreage closer to Medicine Hat. When they sold the farm due to Marvin’s poor health, they moved back into Medicine Hat and Cathy retired soon after. They enjoyed spending their winters in Yuma, Arizona for many years. Cathy was a 45 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary #2100 and had been very active until the last couple of years. Cathy was predeceased by her parents, Fred Grage and Hellen Grage Lawrence; stepfather, George Lawrence; Marvin’s parents, Phillip and Paulina Maser; her sister, Helen and Phillip Flaig and four sisters and brothers-in-law, Viola (Fred) Rinke, Frances (Walter) Mund, LaVina (Clarence) Boschee and Shirley (George) Doktor. She is survived by her four children, Brenda (Wally) Garrioch, Deborah Saville, Duane (Linda) Maser, Candace (Dean) Romeril; nine grandchildren, Robin Neufeld, Andrea Garrioch, Victoria Saville, Layne (Katelyn) Saville, Jonathon Maser, Matthew (Dawn) Maser, Jasmine (Alex) Paredes, Sara Romeril and Amy Romeril; seven great-grandchildren, Chandra, Daelyn and Drayton Valley, Macsen and Halle Saville, Lachlann Herron, Kendrick Maser; a very special friend of the family, Brenda Slater as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the nursing staff and caregivers at the Legacy Lodge in Lethbridge for the compassionate care they provided to their mother. The family celebrated Cathy’s life with a private funeral service on January 5, 2023. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Cathy’s name may be made directly to Margaret E. Yuill Cancer Centre, Medicine Hat Regional Hospital at 666 – 5 Street SW, Medicine Hat, AB., T1A 4H6, or to a charity of one’s choice. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral Chapel Crematorium & Reception Facility 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455 www.cooksouthland.com “Locally owned & directed”