Zona Gail passed away August 2, 2019. She was the second child of three born to Frederick and Norma Schreiber in June of 1931. She grew up in Miles City, Montana, riding horses and exploring Montana’s wide open spaces. After Zona’s father received his degree in geology the family moved to Butte, Montana where he worked for the Anaconda Mining Company.
Sometime in the mid 1940’s there was a minor’s strike at the Anaconda copper mine. The strike had become very contentious and anyone crossing the picket lines was harassed and sometimes their homes vandalized. Since Fred was in management he was concerned for his house and family’s safety. So, at night he would go out to the taverns/bars in the area and buy drinks for the striking workers. He explained to them that he would not cross any picket line, and he tried to befriend them. His strategy worked because despite damage being done to the homes of other management personnel or scabs that crossed the lines, Fred’s home was not harmed and his family was never bullied. With the coming of summer and the kids getting out of school, he decided it was time to move his family to Washington State. Zona would start the ninth grade in Seattle.
It was in Seattle that Zona met her first husband, Lee Mason, on a blind date. They married in April of 1951 and shortly thereafter moved to San Diego, California where Lee was stationed in the Navy. In January of 1953 Zona gave birth to her first child, Tracy Alan, who was born in the San Diego Naval Hospital. By September of 1954 Lee was no longer in the Navy when her second child, Pamela Colleen, was born in Long Beach, California.
Zona started working for Dr. Stroshine, a dentist, not long after Pamela was born. She worked as the Bookkeeper and Office Manager. Little did she know at the time that this would be her life long career.
By 1974 Zona was divorced from Lee and decided to move to Colorado with her sister, Charlotte, and brother-in-law, as well as her daughter. Once Zona got settled in Boulder, Colorado, she got a job working for Dr. R.J. Woods, a dentist. With her many years with Dr. Stroshine, she was a natural for Bookkeeper/Office Manager. Zona and R.J. became life long friends.
After Zona moved into a new apartment in Niwot, Colorado, she came to know her new next door neighbor, her future husband, Harold Severson. When Hal first showed up on her doorstep she looked him over and saw to her amazement that he was wearing cowboy boots. For a Montana girl this was very good. They eventually moved to Grapevine, Texas where they were married.
Zona and Hal really enjoyed their time in Texas. They made many friends, traveled all over the State of Texas, and even bought a boat to enjoy on Grapevine Lake. Unfortunately Hal’s job forced them to leave Texas and move to Joliette, Illinois. And, as in Texas the two of them made many friends, and again bought a boat, a nice little cabin cruiser. They enjoyed many weekends on Fox Lake in Wisconsin.
By around 1992 both Zona and Hal decided they were tired of working and sold everything. They bought a truck and a fifth-wheel RV and hit the road. They traveled to Canada and the western U.S. Eventually they tired of life on the road and settled down in Buellton, California where Hal started a used car business. Zona worked for a local doctor, and you guessed it, as Bookkeeper/Office Manager.
Around 2006 Zona and Hal started thinking they should move closer to family. They weren’t getting any younger and they figured eventually they would need some looking after. So in 2007 they moved to Loveland, Colorado where they would be close to their daughter and they could live out the rest of their lives. Sadly Hal passed away in April of 2013 due to Parkinson’s disease. Not long after Hal’s passing Zona moved to a more manageable apartment for independent seniors.
A number of years before Hal passed away Zona was diagnosed with dementia. As the symptoms progressed it was decided that she needed a little more help. So she moved to an assisted living facility where she spent her final years.
Zona is preceded in death by her brother, Fred Schreiber, sister, Charlotte Nord, and husband, Harold Severson. She is survived by her son Tracy, Della Mason of Seal Beach, CA; daughter Pam, Glenn Hager of Loveland, CO; grandson Sean, Mina Hager of Hollister, CA; granddaughter Adrian, Jason Park of Corona, CA; and 3 great-grandchildren, Brian Hager, Colleen Park, and Molly Park.
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