Thomas Allen Mason passed away in Springdale Arkansas on September 27, 2023, at the age of 84 years old. He was born January 21, 1939, in Compton California to Dwight & Lucille Mason.
Shortly after Tom’s birth his family moved back to Atchison Kansas where his sister Kay and little brother Duane were born. Tom’s family lived in a home right next to a large Catholic girl’s school and college. At an early age Tom served at many Catholic masses assisting the priests. He attended St Josephs Catholic School up to the sixth grade.
In addition to living in Atchison his family lived on a farm in Steelville Missouri where his youngest brother Darrel was born. The family then moved to Clifton Kansas which was another small town where he graduated from Clifton High School in 1959. During his teenage years he had a love for cars. He worked in many service stations starting in Clifton.
The family then moved to Eldorado, Texas where he got a job at a local service station. In Eldorado he met and married LaNell Reynolds in 1959. They had two daughters Rhonda LaNell and Trudy Leah. When they started a family, he took a job at Northern Natural Gas Company in Eldorado. That position with Northern Natural Gas Company gave him a career that took him from Texas to Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and then back to Texas. He was with subsidiaries of Northern with a long career and retired in approximately 2006.
Tom was dedicated to his career. He was a smart and articulate employee who moved up in the company. When Tom retired, he moved to Arkansas to make his home on Rhonda and her husband Kently’s land.
Tom enjoyed working on his lawn and sitting watching the deer come into the yard. He would also watch NASCAR and NHRA every weekend. He kept his home and Dodge truck immaculate. He lived there happily until his death.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Dwight and Lucille Mason, brother-in-law Johnny Christopher, nephew Kevin Christopher. Tom leaves to cherish his memory his sister Kay Christopher; brothers Duane Mason, Darrel Mason and wife Marsha; two daughters, Rhonda LaNell Hall and husband Kently Hall, and Trudy Leah Swanzy and husband Arlen Swanzy; four grandchildren Thomas Gilliam, Revae Baker, Lacey Strobel and Alexis Swanzy; six great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and cousins; and a lot of wonderful friends. He will certainly be missed by all his family and friends.
May he rest in peace.
