Robert D. Mason

Robert D. Mason, a long – time Prescott resident, entered into eternal life on May 8, 2014. He was born on April 28, 1925 in Wray, Colorado, the third son of William James and Veda Bell Ramsey Mason. Bob’s early years were spent on the family farm in Cope, Colorado where he attended school and survived the Great Depression. Bob taught his family many life lessons using his own example: He taught them a love for our country. At the outbreak of World War II, at the age of only 17, Bob enlisted in the United States Army. He was trained as a flight navigator on B-17’s, flying many combat missions(36) with the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy . He earned the rank of Captain before he was wounded and discharged. After World War II, he returned to Colorado where he married Elaine Ruth Thorson in 1945. He taught them a love for an education. He and his wife, Elaine, lived in Boulder, Colorado while Bob earned his engineering degree from the University of Colorado in 1949. Bob worked as a Civil Engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation in Torrington, Wyoming; Phoenix, Arizona; Tracy , California; and Boulder City, Nevada. He took great pride in helping engineer the building of Glen Canyon Dam in Page, Arizona. He taught them a love of hard work. After 35 years with the United States Government, Bob ‘retired’. Shortly after this retirement he moved to Prescott and became the first Director of the Prescott Active Management Area for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. He taught them a love of God. In every community that Bob lived, he was an active member of the Presbyterian Church. He served as an Elder, a Deacon, an Usher and as Building Chair. He was an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Prescott. He taught them the importance of community service. Bob was a long time Rotarian. He served as President in three different Rotary Clubs. He was an active member of the Prescott Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also one of the founding members of the Prescott Area Art Trust. Bob and his friend, Harry Wagner, were responsible for bringing the Borglum Collection from the Borglum Family in Connecticut to Prescott, Arizona. This collection is now housed in the Phippen Museum. He taught them how to play and enjoy life. Bob was an avid cribbage player. He was also a skilled bridge player. He enjoyed fishing and hunting in Wyoming and Arizona. He especially enjoyed fishing for salmon and halibut with his sons in Alaska. He taught them the love of family. After the death of his first wife, Elaine, in 1986, Bob married Gertrude Livingstone in 1988. Gert died in 2001. In 2007, Bob married his third wife, Ann Kirkwood. Bob enjoyed 60 years of happy marriages. Bob is survived by his wife, Ann of Prescott, and his brother Merrill and his wife Georgia of Cope, Colorado. He is also survived by his children: Doug (Peg) of Florence, AZ, Diane (Rob) Pecharich of Prescott, AZ, Jim (Robin) of Juneau, AK, Jeff ( Jackie) of Tracy, CA, Doryce (Jeff) Hawkins of Kalispell, MT. Sixteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren will also miss their “Grandpa Mason”.



Service:
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church , 630 Park Avenue, Prescott, AZ .