Obituary of Barbara Lee Mascarin

Our beloved mother, Barbara Lee Mascarin, “Bobbie” to her many friends, passed away at her home on Monday, 13 February, 2017 at the age of 84. She was born on 16 September, 1932 in Stoneham, Massachusetts to Leland Jackson and Madaline Hayward. Mom’s natural mother passed away in 1940 and she was subsequently raised by her stepmother, May Isabelle Jackson, along with two half sisters and a half brother. Mom graduated from Burlington High School in Burlington, MA in 1950. Mom held many positions and worked for many different companies during her lifetime, including Raytheon Mfg. Corp., Sylvania Electric, Philco Corporation, the Pensacola News Journal, Escambia County Tax Collectors Office, Freeport Construction Company (Bahamas) and Mullan Enterprises of Florida. She also worked as a real estate agent in Marbella, Spain followed by a civil service position with the U.S. Navy in Rota, Spain and subsequently a job with NATO, in Brussels, Belgium. She was most proud, however, of her service with Military Sealift Command (MSC) where she served as a Chief Purser aboard several MSC ships and where she had the honor of being one of the first women to serve her country at sea aboard a U.S. Navy vessel. Mom’s many activities took her abroad far and wide, both as a tourist and a resident. While she visited many countries in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean, she actually resided in the Philippine Islands and the Bahamas, as well as many parts of the U.S. and Europe, including in Scotland, England, Spain and Belgium. Her homes in Florida included Pensacola, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Miami, Cocoa Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa and eventually Rockledge, where she spent her final years among family and friends in the condo she loved so much. Yes, she liked nothing better than a sit down chin wag on her balcony overlooking the Indian River with friends…and a tall rum and coke. No ice, thank you! Ever the free spirit and adventurer, Mom’s “hobbies” mostly included traveling, cruising and sailing in the waters around Florida and the Bahamas. She was the proud owner of two boats, the “Salty I” followed by “Salty II”. She certainly loved the boating life. A loving and devoted Mother, her family includes her only surviving brother, Leland Jackson Jr., of Boise, ID, as well as her son, David aka “Robbie” Mascarin of Bremerton, WA and daughter Debra Mascarin, of Rockledge, FL. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Heather Nerheim of Bremerton, WA and Allison Fadden of Seattle, WA and five great grandchildren, Peter, Isabelle, Hutcheson, Eilidh and one more arriving in June! A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, 25 March, 2017, starting at 2pm in the pool house of the Indian River Club Association in Rockledge, Florida. Light snacks and wine will be served. Please check back for updates on the location should it change to another room at the Indian River Club. Should you need to contact Debra, her telephone number is (321) 888-5869. Dress is as Mom would have it…casual. Naturally, rum and coke will also be available.