Calvin Mason

ARNOLD MOORE & NEEKAMP FUNERAL HOME, BARTLESVILLE, OK - Born on November 5, 1924 to Clarence C and Nellie Martha Ellis Mason in Cold Springs Missouri. Calvin was the youngest of five children. His nickname was "Cotton Top". His working life started as a helper on the family farm. He was educated by his smart and talented mother who gave him undivided attention before his school years since all of the other siblings were in school. As a child, one of his jobs was to set on the back fender of the tractor and kick the hay bail out of the bailer. One night, he fell off after kicking a bail and his dad didn't know until he made another round where his dad found him lying in the grass without a scratch. His dad immediately stopped the tractor, picked him up and rushed him home saying "I love you, I'm sorry" over and over. Calvin's best friend growing up was Bill Curtis. Bill was the middle child of 3, one of which was Jackie Curtis. Calvin and Jackie never dated before the war. As Calvin would put it, they were just friends. He worked at J&S Foundry during his school years. His first job was to pick up, clean and sort bolts out of the ash floor in the foundry that was made from the remains of burnt firewood. This was how he learned all the different fastener dimensions and threat pitches. During this time, his brother Everett showed him in the shop how you could take molten metal and pour it into a sand mold and make a casting. To him, that was the most fascinating thing he had ever seen. Making useful things from molten metal and sand became a passion that guided the rest of his life. He decided to quit school a month before graduation. His father set him down and said "So, you are quitting school, well, if that is what you want to do then that's your choice. I won't step in and change your decision unless I need to". Calvin enlisted in the Navy as a Seabee on June 18, 1943 where he served his country in the South Pacific during WWII starting in the Solomon Islands and finishing in Okinawa. He received his honorable discharge in February of 1946 in San Francisco, CA after a month long boat ride from Okinawa. He returned by bus and foot to his hometown of Dewey, Ok. As he walked up to his brother Cecil's house in his uniform carrying his sea bag, he remembered seeing Charlie's little head peeking through the window. Calvin married Jacqueline (Jackie) Curtis on September 21, 1946 and they made their home in Dewey. Following the war, he turned down an opportunity to attend Oklahoma A&M but remained an avid OSU fan for the rest of his life. He received the GI-Bill and instead of going to college, learned to fly an airplane. Returning to the Bartlesville area he went to work in various manufacturing businesses. He started Blue Stem foundry in Dewey Oklahoma in the early 1950s. While there he built such well known houses as the Joe Price house known as Shin'en Kan designed by Bruce Goff. He also built the famous chairs designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Price Tower, and the hand railing on the outside staircase. The most difficult casting he ever made was the connecting piece between the straight rails where one flight ends and the next begins. This was the beginning of a lifelong relationship with both architects, Mr. Wright and Mr. Goff. His famous line to Mr. Wright was "If you can draw it I can build it." Calvin was an amazing, brilliant man that was loved and respected by people around the world. In 1966 he moved his wife and daughter to Medford Lakes, New Jersey where he worked for a company called Linemelt under the direction of the late Jim Hoff servicing Induction-type Metal Melting Furnaces. He started as a service technician then shortly after became service manager and on to VP of Linemelt which by that time was owned by Inductotherm Corporation. He became the world renowned expert in Induction Metal Melting and Metallurgy. His customer base was from J&S Foundry in Dewey, OK to Ford Motor Company and Chrysler in the US and multiple major foundries in Europe, Latin America, China, and Australia. The majority of his domestic service calls and customer visits were done in a Twin Engine Piper Commanche. His best line for closing deals was "An Oklahoma Guarantee" which means - "If it doesn't work you can call me a Sumbitch!!" In 1980 after retiring from Inductotherm, he moved to Rogers, Arkansas for a couple years and worked as a consultant in a foundry with Inductotherm furnaces located in Luling, TX. His method of travel was flying his own Piper Single Engine Airplane back and forth so he could be home with Jackie, his daughter, and new grandson on weekends. He then made his home in Copan, OK building Jackie's dream home. The big dome house was one of his most treasured accomplishments. After the home was completed in 1983, Calvin returned to work as manager of Superior Manufacturing in Dewey. He retired from Superior Manufacturing in 1991 and spent his remaining years at home with his wife, and family. Calvin passed peacefully on Monday evening, August 8th 2016, in his home with his loving daughter right by his side. Calvin was preceded in death by the love of his life Jackie Mason on May 5, 2005. Living to 91 Calvin was also preceded in death by his brothers, Cecil Edward, Everett Leslie, Merle Raymond and sister, Ethel Lorene and his parents. Calvin is survived by his son, James Dewayne Mason and wife, Karen of Ponca City, his daughter, Deborah Kay Smith and husband, Paul of Copan, granddaughter, Stacey Burland of Newport-News, Virginia, grandson, Gabriel Calvin Cochran and wife, Julie of Coweta, OK and grandson, Basil Smith of Dewey. Great-granddaughters, A'llysa Paige (Little Bit) Cochran of Tahlequah, Reese Gabriella Cochran of Coweta, Tiffany K. Weddle and husband, Joe of Virginia, Jordan Card and husband, Blake of California and Jackie Rae Burland of Virginia and Emma Renae Smith of Dewey. Great-grandson, Garrett Warren Cochran of Coweta and great-great grandson, Joe-Joe Weddle of Virginia. He was also survived by countless nieces and nephews who were all an important part of his life. Along life's many journeys, very special people entered his life and they became family. Paul and Karen Cervellero and sons Chris and Mark of Pennsylvania and Frank and Heather Smith and sons Mathew and Phillip of California. Calvin will be missed by people all around the world. But rest assured he is where he wanted to be. Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:00 AM-8:00 PM in the Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home. Family will be present to greet friends on Friday from 6-8:00 PM. Closed Casket Graveside Memorial Service will be held on Saturday August 13th at 11:00 am in the Dewey City Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome to his home for lunch and a great celebration!! Arrangements are under the direction of the Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.

Visitation Details

Thursday, August 11th, 2016 9:00am - 8:00pm, Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home

Friday, August 12th, 2016 9:00am - 8:00pm, Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home

Service Details

Saturday, August 13th, 2016 11:00am, Dewey Cemetery

Interment Details

Dewey Cemetery