As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, our heart is sad because our beloved Mason is not here to share in the celebration.

Mason Andrew Peay, 63 years of age, of Salem, Virginia passed away on May 26th at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital from complications of a stroke. Mason was predeceased by his parents, Barry Elliott Peay, Sr. and Evelyn Peay and his brother Barry Elliott Peay, Jr. He leaves to cherish his memory his nephew Elliott Peay lll, close cousins Patti Fralix and Paula Monahan and their families, as well as other relatives. He also leaves behind close friends Dave Cornett and Stephen Irby and many others who he cherished like family. Mason gave liberally to his friends, and they to him.

Mason’s friends and family will miss his humor and all the ways he expressed it. Mason loved plants and flowers, and grew them liberally since he was a teenager. He also loved playing in the band in high school. Mason was in the 1981 graduating class of First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Mason was a Registered Nurse with baccalaureate and master’s degrees in Nursing from Radford University and Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, Virginia.

Mason had some serious health issues the past couple of years, and his friends kept close to him, caring for him in so many ways. Having no family living near, his friends filled that void. Mason’s family expresses sincere appreciation to his friends for all that they did to meet his care needs. We should all be so fortunate as to have friends who are so close, reaching out in so many ways.

To celebrate Mason’s life hold dear to your loved ones, treasure your memories, and do all that you can to help others in their times of need.

Goodbye and Godspeed, dear Mason. We hope that your celebration is even greater than ours.