Vern Lloyd Mason

Vern L. (“Stub”) Mason, age 94, passed away at home on November 5, 2020. He was born July 8, 1926 at his Grandma Beebe’s farmhouse in Schoolcraft Township to Thelma E. (Beebe) and Charles A. Mason. He went to Kinney Country School and Mattawan High School. He enlisted in the US Army when he was 17 and served in the Philippines and Japan toward the end of World War II. Vern met the love of his life, Mary Lou Fellows, when he was 7. He fondly remembered visiting her family’s farm and seeing her climbing a tree. He married her 18 years later on June 23, 1951. Together they raised three daughters, of whom they were incredibly proud; Linda (Steve) Orosz, Julie (Ken) Fisher and Connie (Rich) Reese. Vern spent most of his career working for Panelyte as a foreman from 1949 -1967 until the plant moved out of state. He then went to work for Durametallic (now Flowserve) as a machinist until he retired in 1988. Vern and Mary Lou lived in the Kalamazoo area all of their lives. They spent 33 summers at their second home on Gun Lake, and 19 winters in Florida. Vern and Mary Lou were members of Oakwood United Methodist Church until it closed. He will be remembered as a kind, honest, humble, and generous man who loved to woodwork, play baseball, visit National Parks, follow the Detroit Tigers, and take his grandkids out on the pontoon and his great-grandchildren for rides on his golf cart. He also loved to duck hunt until later in life when he only wanted to feed them. He loved his country and was proud of his service. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers and two sisters. When asked what he liked to be called, he would say his favorite name was “Grandpa.” He leaves behind his five grandchildren; Lisa Mason, Casey Fisher, Jessica (Fisher) Grant, Natalie (Orosz) Bennett, and Stacy (Orosz) Davis. He was also blessed with four great-grandchildren; Mason Fisher, and Adam, Amelia, and Ellie Grant, whom he adored. Donations in his honor may be made to Southwest Michigan Talons Out Honor Flight, where he participated his own Honors Flight in 2014 to Washington DC, visiting the World War II memorial and experiencing a trip of a lifetime. Donations can be mailed to Talons Honor Out Flight, PO Box 280, Portage, MI 49801 or submitted online at: https://www.talonsouthonorflight.org While visiting www.avinkcremation.com please take time to sign Vern's guestbook by lighting a candle and/or sharing a memory with the family. The Mason family is being assisted by the Avink Funeral Home & Cremation Society, 129 South Grand, Schoolcraft, MI 49087 (269) 679-5622.