Ralph Cheney Mason died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home. He was 74.

Mr. Mason was a native of Washington Depot, Conn., attended St. Thomas Seminary and graduated from Fairfield University. For most of his adult life, he was a resident of Vicksburg where he was a teacher, first at St. Aloysius High School and then for about 30 years in public schools.

After retiring, he was a volunteer cataloger, indexer and editor at the Old Court House Museum-Eva W. Davis Memorial. He was the editor of “When Warren County Went to War,” a compilation of the names and service records of residents who fought in the Civil War, and of “Mr. Holland’s School,” a history of the first year of public schooling in Vicksburg and the students who attended. He co-authored, with Gordon Cotton, “With Malice Toward Some,” a history of Vicksburg after the Civil War surrender with special emphasis on those held prisoner.

Mr. Mason was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Thayer and Ruth Cheney Mason.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Chappell Mason of Vicksburg; a son, Thomas Francis Mason of Las Vegas; a daughter, Lorena Yankovitz of Manassas, Va.; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1512 Main St., Vicksburg, Miss., 39183, or the Vicksburg Warren County Historical Society, 1008 Cherry St., Vicksburg, Miss. 39183.

Arrangements will be announced by Riles Funeral Home.

Albert B. McNamara

Albert B. McNamara died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, in Pineville, La. He was 77.

A native of Vicksburg, Mr. McNamara attended St. Aloysius and Carr Central high schools. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and retired from the Navy after 25 years of service. He was later associated with the Veterans Administration Hospital in Pineville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Xavier Leray McNamara; five brothers, William McNamara, Xavier McNamara, Thomas McNamara, Patrick McNamara and John McNamara; and two sisters, Margaret Bell and Josephine McNamara.

He is survived by his wife, Marie McNamara of Pineville; three daughters, Melanie McNamara and Deidra McNamara, both of Pineville, and Tanya Turner of Florian, La.; a sister, Martha “Lady” McNamara of Vicksburg; a brother, Joseph McNamara of Vicksburg; a grandson, Brandon McNamara of Pineville; nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hixon Bros. Funeral Home in Pineville and at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral in Alexandria, La.

Wake will be at 6:30 tonight at the funeral home.

Mike S. Owen

UTICA Mike S. Owen died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. He was 80.

A lifelong resident of Utica, Mr. Owen graduated from Mississippi State University. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II and retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg.

He was a member of Utica Christian Church, where he served as a deacon and trustee.

Survivors include his wife, Gwen McGuffie Owen of Utica; three daughters, Cheryl Clayton of Hazlehurst, Janet Strong of Clinton and Mickie Knight of Brandon; and six grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Utica Christian Church with the Revs. Bill McKnight and Lucian Lee officiating. Burial will follow at Utica Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Glenwood Funeral Home in Utica.

Pallbearers will be Bob Lee Currie, Dan Currie, Lee Herren, Mel Breeden, Melvin Breeden and Ken Harrison.

Memorials may be made to the Utica Christian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 306, Utica, MS 39175 or to a favorite charity.