QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH GRACIE

Gracie Evelyn (Paden) Mason is originally from Arkansas. She is currently in her late 80’s. She moved to Portland, Oregon in the 1950s following in the steps of her older brother. Gracie worked as a nurse and eventually went back to school and obtained her Bachelors in Education from Portland State University. Gracie enjoyed being a Pre-Kindergarten teacher and worked at Humboldt School for most of her career. She is the mother of Darcell and Grandmother of Aasha from Good2Know. She is a great cook and an artist. Gracie has set a strong foundation as the matriarch of the family. 

What’s something you want to learn?
A little bit more about computers.

What makes you unique?
The way I respect and react to people.

What is your biggest pet peeve – what gets on your last nerve?
Being around noisy kids. Kids not minding. 

Would you rather go to the beach or the mountains?
Beach.

What’s your favorite place on earth/vacation spot?
New York (Manhattan). 

What is something you are proud of?
My daughter and granddaughter. 

Oh! We got featured? 
Yeah, getting your education.

What’s a favorite way to spend a day off? I know you’ve been retired.
Sleeping, watching tv and doing what I want to do and eating what I want to eat. 

What do you like to watch on tv?
I like to watch remodeling shows.

What kind of food would you like to eat on your day off?
Fish, vegetables and salad. 

If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably salad.

You would eat salad for the rest of your life? 
It would be Chef’s Salad.

What song always gets you out on the dance floor?
I don’t dance. 

I knew she was going to say that. 

What makes you tap your feet?
The kind of music I like. All kinds. 

2Chainz…City Girls?
I never heard of them. 

You said you like all music. 
Most of it.

What’s your favorite season and why?
Summer… if we have a good summer. 

Why do you like summer? 
Because the weather is nice and you can be out most of the time. 

You trying to be a hot girl? Get your legs out? 
No, I wear pants.

Is there a product you couldn’t live without?
Probably soap.

Are you more of a “work to live” or “live to work” type of person?
I worked because I had to.

What career advice would you give me? 
Do what you like and try to do it good. Whatever it is.

What makes you feel at peace?
When I can just rest and do what I want to do, when I want to do it.

If you could do anything, besides being like a teacher and you were previously a nurse – what would you do? 
I wouldn’t do anything.

Do you hit the snooze button or wake up immediately?
I would usually wake up automatically.

What’s your go to midnight snack?
Fruit or vegetables, sometimes ice cream.

What’s your favorite ice cream?
If I can find it, lemon (custard).

What are some fond childhood memories?
Going to school. We had to walk a couple of miles. We played basketball. We had a Shop Class for boys and Home Economics for girls. 

What did you do in Home Economics?
We had to make an apron and a dress, embroidery. Different things. 

Did you cook too? 
We had a unit on cooking and budgeting. 

Were you going to school when it was segregated or not segregated?
It was always segregated until more recently  when our school merged with another district.

Did you know it was racist at the time?
I wasn’t around it. We just went to our school and did our activities.

What was college like for you? 
I went to Butler College in Tyler, Texas and played basketball. It was a Baptist College. A few white students went there. I took education courses.

Gracie’s 5 Favorite Things

1. Basketball (Trail Blazers)
2. Going to the movies
3. Going out to eat (Olive Garden)
4. Making jewelry
5. Embroidery/sewing

Tell us something Good 2 (to) Know
Always treat other people like you would like to be treated.