Caroline Mary Lomax-Maskell
Born August 23, 1936, in Nottingham, England.
Caroline passed away peacefully in her sleep at her Tiburon home surrounded by family on the morning of March 18, 2024. She was 87.
Caroline’s youth was spent in Nottingham, England, and she received her culinary education in Scotland. She traveled extensively with her mother and stepfather, including to Europe and South America. One of her favorite places was the south of France. She was an award-winning ballroom dancer, with over twenty medals, spoke French, as well as a self-taught pianist, and a master of the art of crossword puzzles.
In 1966, Caroline’s brother, Peter Lomax, introduced her to Donald Bryan Maskell. They married, moved to San Francisco, and made Tiburon their home, which to Caroline, was reminiscent of the south of France. Caroline fell in love with Tiburon and made it their home for 55 years.
Caroline was a devoted wife and mother and quickly became involved in the Tiburon community. She worked at the Pandemonium and The Cheese Factory on Ark Row with her sister, Jenni, during the 1970s and 1980s. An avid tennis player, she joined the Tiburon Peninsula Club and continued playing into her 80s, making and keeping many friendships with her tennis teams up until her death.
In 1982, she and her husband purchased a ships chandlery on Fisherman’s Wharf, which they turned into Maskell Marine Services, and it became very successful.
When not caring for her family, Caroline could be found working at the family store on Fisherman’s Wharf, catering to tourists, volunteering for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s philanthropic endeavors, where she was an active parishioner for over 50 years, playing Scrabble and card games with friends, voraciously reading, crocheting, and forming lifelong friendships.
Caroline was known for her quick wit, and as an incredible, gracious hostess who loved being surrounded by laughter, family, and friends.
Caroline’s greatest joy came from spending time with her children and grandchildren and was blessed to spend her final days surrounded by them. She lived a remarkable life and will be greatly missed by so many.
Caroline is survived by her two children: daughter Elizabeth Brooks Maskell of Tiburon and son Anthony Maskell; his wife, Jean; and their two children, Sawyer and Caroline of Helena, MT; her sister, Jeanetta Lynn Payne of Sun City West, AZ; and her nieces Caroline Poling of Solana Beach, CA, Stephanie Pezanis-Christou of Phoenix, AZ, and Allison Hooker of New York City. She is predeceased by her husband, Donald Bryan Maskell; mother, Marjorie Burton Payne; father, Eric Brooks Lomax of Nottingham, England; brother Peter Lomax, sister-in-law Nancy Lomax; and nephews David and Michael Lomax.
Services will be held at St. Stephen’s Church, Belvedere, CA, May 3rd, 2024, at 1:00pm, followed by a small reception at Caroline’s home in Tiburon.