Kenneth Allen Mason Kenneth Allen Mason, 69, of Morgan died on April 24, 2012, in Newport, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on February 16, 1943, in Irasburg, Vermont, son of Ernest Charles Mason and Marion Clarkson Mason. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Ellen Hommel, on September 14, 1963 who survives him. Mr. Mason graduated from Orleans High School in the Class of 1960 and entered the United States Air Force directly following graduation. A1C Mason was honorably discharged from the USAF at Pope AFB in North Carolina on June 14, 1966. During his service in the USAF, A1C Mason received several commendations for achievements in: Management, Data Systems & Statistics and Supervisory Skills. He took these skills and applied them to his 40-plus years within the Manufacturing arm of the Home Furnishing Industry, including 28-plus years with Ethan Allen, Inc. Mr. Mason had a knack for plant management and manufacturing logistics, incorporating client and personnel relationships with overall production efficiency and issue resolution. He worked with several manufacturing facilities in several states, including; Ethan Allen, Inc.; DCI; Athens Furniture Industries; Baker Furniture; Green Mountain Custom Finishing; Vermont Tubbs; Vermont Precision; and, Lyndon Furniture. He retained relationships and close friendships throughout the industry until the time of his passing. Mr. Mason enjoyed serving his community through many volunteer services. He had a passion for supporting youth sports and activities and assisted many years with local youth baseball and basketball teams starting back in the late 1960’s with the Pony League in Orleans. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth in Orleans County and assisted with the Border Hoops Junior Pro All-Star Basketball program. Mr. Mason was an active Cub Scout Leader and Elks member for several years. He was a mentor and community activities leader for the Orleans County Court Diversion program, Green-Up Day, North Country Hospital Wellness Smokers’ Anonymous program, NCUHS Booster program, Morgan’s E. Taylor Hatton Elementary School advisory task force and numerous other avocations. In his retirement years, Mr. Mason enjoyed renovating the old cow barn to accommodate his Belgian Draft horses on the farmland in Morgan that he and his wife purchased in 2000, fulfilling a life long dream. Another proud accomplishment on the property was working closely to reclaim the existing pond - known now as “Ken Spring Pond” – and stocking it with Brook Trout which he always loved to fish for throughout the county. Mr. Mason loved visiting with family and friends and was always game for a trip to Virginia to see his grandkids play sports. He enjoyed playing cribbage with whoever would take him up on the challenge and then entertain with his renditions on the karaoke machine. He hosted many snow shoeing/cross-country ski parties with friends out in Morgan and left no season behind in planned fun activities. He is survived by his wife Barbara E. Mason of Morgan, and by his children: Kristin Mason and her partner, Ron Roberge, of Morgan; Korey Mason and his wife, Amy, of Williamsburg, VA. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Lindsay Mason and Ryan Mason of Williamsburg, VA; his mother-in-law, Ellen Stone Hommel of Orleans; his brother-in-law, Richard Hommel and his wife, Alida, of Whitinsville, MA; his nephew, Rick Hommel and his wife, Lisa, and their children, RJ, Samantha and Eli, of Waterbury; his niece, Tracy Ferreira and her husband, David, and their children, Carly and Jake, of Milford, MA; special cousin, Martha Jean Burton and her husband, Steve, of Lebanon, NH; and many extended family members in Vermont, New Hampshire, Texas, Washington, Alabama and Virginia. He was predeceased by his daughter, Kimberly Ellen Mason; his parents, Ernest Charles Mason and Marion Clarkson Mason; and his brother, Roy Mason. In lieu of funeral services, internment and graveside services will be held at Pleasant View Cemetery in Orleans on Saturday, May 26, 2012, at 11 a.m. Following the internment, a celebration of Ken’s life will be held at Ken Spring Pond in Morgan on Saturday, May 26, 2012, at 3 p.m. Donations in Ken’s memory may be made to: IROC in Derby, VT, and/or Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Society in Orleans, VT. Arrangements are entrusted to Pearsons Funeral Home, LLC., 70 Church Street, Lyndonville, VT 05851.
Online guestbook at www.pearsonsfh.com
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