Grieving The Loss of Andy Mason

Friends and Family,

Our world got rocked with the recent passing of my dad.

Last Tuesday May 16, my dad underwent open heart surgery after he suddenly had 3 heart attacks. As strong and resilient as he was, he unfortunately did not make it out of the operation room. My dad has been the sole provider for our family my whole life as my mom had the blessing of raising us kids at home.

Still dealing with this devastating news, we are aware of the challenges that the family will be facing going forward. My mom is now in a position where she needs some help and relief. The cost of funeral, medical bills and the overall process of getting things in order is a huge financial burden on her shoulders at the moment. We are all rallying behind her in support and request that if you would like to help as well, this would be appreciated beyond measure.

If you’d like to share any stories or memories of my dad, please do. We want to hear them. We miss him.

I’d like to share a few things as well.

My dad is Andy Mason. Everyone knows his name. He loved to talk and make friends, especially with dogs. He had so many stories to tell and when you thought the conversation was near the end, he’d start with something else to keep you engaged.

He loved to fish and hunt and he’d try to trick me into eating game meat but I knew better — Although he would still try to convince me it was regular old beef jerky so I’d admit his deer meat was good.

His side hobby was to tease. He loved teasing us kids growing up and really everyone, just ask his sister Sarah. He’d tickle my knee until I’d nearly pee as a kid and admittedly, even in my recent years.

He liked big trucks, fast cars, motorcycles and he even owned a little scooter once when he got hurt but he didn’t like that one as much as the others.

My dad loved the outdoors, especially Wyoming. This is where he has lived the last 9 years with my mom and younger brother, Mitchell. He looked every bit “Wyoming”. One of the times he visited me on the east coast, we took him to New York City where he wore tan Velcro sandals, white socks that went mid calf, cargo shorts (the kind that had the ability to zip/unzip and become pants), a long sleeve camo shirt (even though it was SO hot that day), a cowboy hat and he had a beard like the ones you see on Duck Dynasty. He wanted to bring his gun but we had to remind him that he was not in Wyoming anymore. He didn’t mind that he didn’t fit into the city style. He walked his own walk, always.

My dad worked hard and loved hard all of his life. He was 55. It’s always too soon but this was actually far too soon.

If you ever had the pleasure of knowing my dad, you know his presence was contagious. He loved Jesus and his family with all of his heart and you probably know of all of his 4 grandchildren, who he was so proud of.

Please share with those who would appreciate these little reminders of who my dad was, which only covers an inch.