Our friend Josephine Mason Lee died at home on April 1, 2014, in Rapid City. Jo was born Jan. 13, 1940, in Chattanooga, TN, to Lou Mason Crosby. Raised in Hattiesburg, MS, she was a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. A lifelong advocate for students, she taught first in New Orleans. After moving to Rapid City in 1962, she taught for five years at Rapid City's South Junior High School before earning a Masters degree in English from Arizona State University. She retired as an associate emeritus professor from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2012 after teaching English and Humanities for 38 years. For hundreds of students through five decades of teaching, Jo was an inspiring, unforgettable force of nature. Jo loved to travel and traveled widely, often with her longtime Mines colleague, Dr. John Dunn. Many Rapid City residents and friends will also remember Jo from her summers working as an assistant manager at the Black Hills Greyhound Track. She was especially known for her opening and closing night outfits. An avid reader, a lover of cats, and a loyal friend, Jo is survived by her brother, John Mason of Biloxi, MS; a nephew and a niece, Fletcher Mason and Elizabeth Vazari; her dear longtime friends Dick Kohler of Gillette, WY, and Rosie Derby of Rapid and many other friends, colleagues and former students. A memorial celebration is planned for Wednesday, April 16 at 4:00 -7:00pm at Kelly's Lounge. Come and help us celebrate Jo's life.