Mrs. Mast was born September 15, 1922, in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was the daughter of Sidney Grogan and Horace Roberdeau of Austin. In 1944, she married her college sweetheart, Adlai Travis Mast, Jr., of Nacogdoches.
Mrs. Mast received her BBA degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. In Nacogdoches, she served 7 years as a Trustee of the Nacogdoches Independent School District, and was the first woman elected to the Nacogdoches District Hospital Board, where she served 14 years. She was also a member of the Nacogdoches Landmark Commission, Nacogdoches County Historical Foundation, the first Convention and Visitors Bureau, Heritage Club, Cum Concilio Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Magna Charta Dames. As a devoted member of Christ Episcopal Church, she served on the Vestry, and was President of the Diocese of Texas Episcopal Churchwomen.
Her other interests were the Texas Committee and National Advisory Board of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America State Board of Managers, Texas Historical Foundation Board, University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture Advisory Board, the Texas Lyceum Senior Advisory Board, and The Texas Arts Alliance.
In recognition of her service, she received the American Association of University Women’s award for Outstanding Public Service as an Elected Official in 1988, and Woman of the Year in 1996. Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts recognized her as East Texas Cultural Leader of the Year in 1997. The Nacogdoches County Chamber in 2004 honored her with the Athena Award. In 2005, she and her husband received the Texas Historical Foundation’s Judge James Wheat award for historical preservation.
As a passionate supporter of Stephen F. Austin State University, Mrs. Mast, along with her husband, created several scholarships, and founded the SFA Mast Arboretum, the first arboretum at a university in Texas.
Mrs. Mast was preceded in death by her husband, Adlai Travis Mast, Jr., and her son, Horace R. Mast. She is survived by her children, Dr. Travis Mast and wife Lupe of Nacogdoches, Tricia Mast George and husband Kenn of Dallas, and John Mast and wife Karen of Nacogdoches. Also her devoted grandchildren, Sidney and Brian Goodfriend, Helen and Jason Lary, Adlai Mast, IV, Margaret and Darrell Mathes, Kenneth and Carolyn George, Patrick and Elizabeth George, Clement and Molly George, Elizabeth and Chase Gosselin, Horace and Briana Mast, and Joseph and Ashely Mast. She delighted in her 13 great-grandchildren, and the news of the expected fourth generation girl!
A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 28, 2018, at Christ Episcopal Church officiated by The Rev. Howard Castleberry. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons: Kenneth George II, Patrick George, Clement George, Adlai Mast IV, Horace Mast II, and Joseph Mast.
Friends and family are invited to a visitation prior to the service beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the Christ Episcopal Parish Hall.
The family requests that instead of flowers, memorials be sent to Christ Episcopal Church, 1430 N. Mound Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches.
