Ethel Pauline Mason Campbell

Ethel Pauline Mason Campbell, 98, of Statesville, peacefully passed away Monday, August 12, 2019 at The Gardens Assisted Living Facility in Statesville.
She was born in Iredell County on January 25, 1921 to the late Edward Franklin Mason and Nannie May Woodward. She was the 6th of 9 children. She was a family homemaker, Statesville City Club Manager, antique collector, furniture restorer, loving mother of two boys, and a take charge wife. She was the happiest when working in the garden and on the farm with her dog, the tractor, a chainsaw and her husband. During the Spring and Summer, she always had beautiful flowers growing, and her vegetable gardens were well tended and full. She would can and freeze fresh vegetables for weeks at a time. Her carving and basket weaving skills were well known, and she taught many others her crafts. For many years, she would work on the farm in the morning, on the tractor, with a hoe, or using the chain saw and then bathe, get dressed in her “Sunday Best” and go to the Statesville City Club where she was the Manager for 15 Years. She would work there until midnight, return home and do it all over again, every day, 6 days a week. Her work ethic was strong, and she could work circles around people half her age. As a child, she attended Central School and was a life-long member of Damascus Baptist Church and Rocky Hill Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Mr. Reece Marconi Campbell, her oldest son, Phillip Mason Campbell, four sisters, and two brothers.
Ethel is survived by one son, Larry Stephen Campbell, two sisters, Mary Lee Lackey, (Allen), Lois Helen Goodin, (Delbert), Granddaughters, Kara Campbell Steadman, husband Tommy, two great-grandchildren, Stone Thomas and Cooper Reece Steadman, and many cousins, nephews and nieces. She had many friends and neighbors who loved her stories from the past, sharing her experiences and knowledge regarding gardening, furniture restoring and general life stories. She loved life, her friends, family, and working outside. She loved nature, and could name every tree in the woods, and every flower that grew there too. She will leave a legacy of love for life, family history, stories of the “old hard times” as a child growing up without a mother, who passed when Ethel was only eight years old. At the Gardens, she would sing, yodel and dance in her “Blue Suede Shoes” to the music being provided by local musicians. She was always happy and smiling and had a story from her past to tell those who would ask. A special “praise” should go the lovely personnel working at the Gardens who made her life comfortable and happy for the last 3 years.
The funeral service honoring her life will be held on Friday, August 16, at 3:00pm at Damascus Baptist Church with the Rev. Dale Wallace and Pastor Henry Cook Officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Damascus Church Cemetery, where she will lie beside her Husband.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, Inc. 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 in Honor of her oldest son who passed away in 2016, or to a charity of your choosing. Condolences may be left for the Campbell Family by visiting the Nicholson Funeral Home website at www.nicholsonfunerals.com .