A Love of Nature, through Generations
To the Mason and Walker family, a love of nature is not just an interest—it is a legacy, passed down through generations.
When Esten Mason passed away on November 21, 2025, she left behind more than memories. She left a lasting commitment to the natural world, one that continues to grow through her extraordinary generosity. Through her estate, she has made gifts to a wide range of organizations, including Conserving Carolina. At Conserving Carolina, her gift is making an impact across multiple fronts, advancing the conservation projects happening right now, strengthening the long-term stability of our organization, ensuring lands are cared for forever, and even equipping our field teams with a much-needed vehicle to do their work on the ground. This approach allows her legacy to live on across the full scope of our mission for today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Her daughter, Esten Walker, recently sat down with us to reflect on the life and legacy of a woman whose connection to nature shaped not only her own path, but the lives of everyone around her.
Esten Mason’s story begins on a 100-acre hobby farm outside of Charlotte, where she was raised among horses, pigs, goats, chickens, and countless other creatures. It was there that her lifelong love of animals, gardening, and the land first took hold. That connection was deepened by her own mother, Et, a renowned gardener who, alongside her family, operated a small nursery known for its stunning azaleas and magnolias. The nursery was more than a business. It was a place where beauty, care, and stewardship were woven into everyday life.
When Esten became a mother herself, she carried that tradition forward. She brought her children to the nursery, where they spent their days helping their grandmother by picking up sticks, moving plants, and learning by doing. But to them, it never felt like work. It felt like joy. It felt like belonging.
Even as Esten built a life in Charlotte, balancing civic engagement and community leadership, her connection to nature remained constant. Her garden became an extension of who she was. It was vibrant, abundant, and ever-changing. It was even featured on local garden tours, a reflection of both her talent and her passion. She could often be found in her gardening clothes, happily getting her hands dirty, sometimes with a grandchild by her side. Her beloved small green Toyota truck was never far away, often loaded with plants, mulch, or whatever she was hauling to or from a nursery—whether in the mountains or just across town. Gardening wasn’t just a pastime; it was how she connected, gave, and brought beauty into the lives of others.
That same spirit of connection carried into her broader work. Esten played a role in fundraising for the creation of the Discovery Place Science Museum in Charlotte and served on the board of The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina, where she helped protect places like the Roanoke River Basin. Colleagues remember her as someone with real “moxie.” She was a person who could strike up a conversation with anyone and leave them believing in the importance of conservation. To her, this work was about more than land; it was about sparking curiosity and inspiring care for the world around us.
Later in life, when Esten and her husband moved into an independent living community, they brought that same vision with them. What began as a space with little natural beauty soon transformed under their care. Together, they created a flourishing garden complete with a pergola, rocking chairs, and water features. It was a peaceful sanctuary not only for residents, but for wildlife as well. Even into her 80s, Esten could be found outside, tending the garden she had helped bring to life.
For Esten Walker, her mother’s influence is both vivid and enduring. Some of her earliest memories are rooted in the outdoors—including being on a belay rope climbing Grandfather Mountain. She recalls how her mother, ahead of her time, insisted on inclusion and adventure for all. While her father served as a Boy Scout leader for her brothers, that never stopped Esten and her mother from joining in. Wherever the boys went, they went too, quietly but powerfully demonstrating that a love of the outdoors belongs to everyone. Family trips across the country reinforced that connection, though places like the Linville and Green River areas remained especially close to home and heart.
Reflecting on her mother, Esten shared, “She had a sense of purpose—to interact with, love, enjoy, and, where necessary, steward nature. Nature was her grounding.”
That grounding continues to ripple outward. Esten Walker has passed this love of nature on to her own children, each of whom is now making their own mark on the world in fields ranging from computer science to bioengineering, medicine, and veterinary care. While their paths are different, they share a common thread: a deep appreciation for the natural world and a desire to give back.
Esten describes her mother’s influence as a stone skipped across a quiet lake where each ripple extends farther and farther outward. Through her family, her community, and the landscapes she helped protect, those ripples continue today.
Esten Walker and her husband were first introduced to Conserving Carolina through Esten Mason’s sister, Stuart Evans, who lived in Tryon. Through that connection, they quickly came to understand the meaningful, local impact of the organization’s work and became involved in a project in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge. Esten Mason was delighted by her daughter and son-in-law’s engagement and remained closely connected to Conserving Carolina’s work over the years.
As a part of her mother’s will, Esten Walker was able to designate funds to a two conservation non-profits, and we at Conserving Carolina are so honored to be selected to carry on the legacy of Esten Mason. Her estate gift is a reflection of that shared commitment, and it is a celebration of a family’s deep and enduring connection to nature and the outdoors.
Through her estate gift, Esten Mason ensured that her love for the natural world would endure far beyond her lifetime. At Conserving Carolina, her legacy is already making a difference by helping protect land, restore habitats, and inspire future generations to care for the places we all share. It is a powerful reminder that each of us has the ability to shape the future.
By including Conserving Carolina in your own estate plans, you, too, can create a lasting impact. If you are interested in legacy options benefiting nature, please reach out to Planned Giving Officer, Sierra Hoisington by emailing sierra@conservingcarolina.org or by phone (828) 697-5777 ext. 220.
Branches of Giving is a monthly segment sharing inspiring stories from our dedicated supporters, letters from our Development Team, and different ways you can give back and make a difference for conservation.