Donald Mason

Don was born on March 23, 1926 to Samuel & Ollie Mason. He had (12) brothers and sisters, and grew up in Denver on 2100 S. Logan. He passed away on January 29, 2011 at the age of 84. He is survived by his Wife: Mary Lou, his Children: Karen (Alan), Kevin (Kathy), Bill (Deanna), and Brenda (Randy), his Grandchildren: Nicole, Derek (Tiffany), Joshua (Jennifer), Jeremy, Shannon, and Julie, his Great-Grandchildren: Deontae, Taylor, Aidan, Alex, Dylan, Kailynn, and Isabella, his Brother: Newell (Louise), his Sister: Marie, Sisters-in-Law: Mary, and Shirley, and numerous Nieces and Nephews. His Father, Samuel, was a cement contractor. His Mother, Ollie, worked as a lunchroom worker for Denver Public Schools where her excellent cinnamon rolls were always in demand. He attended Rosedale Elementary and Grant Junior High—where he enjoyed wood shop. He went on to South High School where he participated in several sports. He spent his summers working with his Father laying bricks. He also caddied at Wellshire Country Club, and always told how he looked forward to the soda & hotdog that the golfers would buy him at the turn. He graduated from South High School in 1944, and entered the Navy immediately after. He was a Seaman 1st Class in WWII, and served on the U.S.S. Manatee until June, 1946. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked at Oriental Refining Company where he filled railroad tankers with either fuel or oil. In 1952 he decided to go to college, and went to the University of Denver for two years. He then continued his education by taking Trade School and contractor-sponsored classes—where he eventually learned to figure heat loss and heat gain on structures. He first made his living traveling as a salesman for Fraiser-Johnson, and later by working in Heating and Plumbing Sales at Hercules, Contractors Heating & Supply, and the old Montgomery Wards on Broadway. After the Wards Building was sold and leveled, he took in blueprints at his home and would calculate the heat loss and gain. Don had a passion for bowling, and in 1970 he met Mary Lou at Bowlero Lanes. They were married on December 17, 1971 at Bethany United Methodist Church, and remained married for the next 39 years. Mary Lou had (4) children, but Don insisted that he did not like the word “stepchildren”, and always called them his kids. Don & Mary Lou had (6) grandchildren, and (7) great-grandchildren, and he loved attending their sporting events. He was a member of the VFW—Post #1. Don was a very caring man, and once spent his entire paycheck buying shoes for children near his work that were playing out in the bad weather without them. He was always happy to have his family around him, and loved them very much. He even listed “enjoying being with his children” as his interest in his 60th High School Reunion Book.