Darrel Mason

The funeral service for Darrel Gene Mason, age 81, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday April 16, 2010 at the Willow View United Methodist Church, in Enid. Reverend Lesly Broadbent will officiate. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery. There will be a time of visitation with the family from 6-7:30 pm Thursday at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.

Darrel was born October 1, 1928 in Burlington, Okla. to Mervin George and Flora Elsie (Ragan) Mason and died Sunday, April 11, 2010 at St. Mary’s Regional Hospital after a brief battle with lung cancer.

He married Martha Mae Hern on August 14, 1949 at the Methodist Church in Manchester, Okla. They started their new life together in Alva, later moving to Enid in 1950. They both worked at Longbell Lumber Co. until he entered the United States Air Force in 1951. He was first stationed at El Paso, Texas before being transferred to Cambridge, England. He was honorably discharged from the Reserves on the 5th of January in 1960.

He was employed by Champlin Petroleum Co. in September 10, 1955 until October 1, 1989 when the Enid refinery was closed. He then held various jobs including: working for the Garfield County Commissioner, the Garfield County election board, and was also self-employed by K&L Enterprises and MaJaco . His last job held was with Steven’s Ford until December 2009. He was a member & past President of Champlin AFL-CIO, Member & Past President of Kiwanis of Enid, American Legion Member over 50 years, Member, Trustee & Board member at Willow View UMC.

Darrel spent many years coaching & playing basketball for their church league & many years of coaching for Pam’s softball leagues. One of his favorite hobbies was his collection of Champlin Petroleum Products & memorabilia. After collecting many of the Champlin Products, he opened & operated a Champlin Museum west of Leonardo’s for many years. He was a big part of planning & helping arrange the many Champlin Reunion’s held in Enid. One of his favorite activities in the last few years was getting together with the group of Champlin widowers having dinners together & pulling pranks on each other. Darrel & Martha used a lot of their free time following their grandkids & their activities. Anyone who knew Darrel, knew he never met a stranger. He totally enjoyed talking & laughing with everyone he met. Family & friends were extremely important to him, a lesson he taught to his family.

He is survived by his daughter, Pamela Kay Mason Williams of Watonga, OK; three grandchildren, Stacy Ann Williams of Weatherford, OK, Laura Kay Williams attending UCO in Edmond, OK, and Darren Mason Williams of Watonga, OK; two sisters, Betty Woods and husband, Ed, of Weiser, ID, Janet Hardin and husband Merle, of Irving, TX; three brothers, Albert and wife Dolores of Wesleco, TX, Harry and wife Dianna of Enid, Jerry and wife Peggy of Kiowa, KS; sister-in-law Virgie Hern of Enid. He is survived by numerous nephews & nieces, including his double nephew, Steve & Roxann Mason, Drummond, & double nieces Peggy Mason of Stillwater, Linda Mason Grey Kellick & Dennis of Skiatook & Carol & Charile Fleig of North Enid, along with many other relatives & friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, in April, 2008; two infant sons: Jackie Ray in 1952 and Gary Lee in 1953; his parents; his brother’s Dewey Mason and Milton Mason, who was married to Martha’s sister, Lavona, who passed away in Dec 2009.

Memorials may be made to the Willow View United Methodist Church and Oklahoma Medical Research Cancer Division with the funeral home as custodian of the funds. Condolences may be emailed to the family at ladusauevans@suddenlinkmail.com.