Mr. Joseph Morgan Mason

Joseph Morgan Mason ("Joe" to everyone he knew, and "Papa" to his grandchildren, their friends, and his great grand children) threw off his earthly bonds and returned to Heaven on June 3, 2017, at the age of 93. His beloved wife of 73 years, Bettye, was by his side as she had been since they met and married while both served in the United States Navy during WWII. Joe was the eldest of nine brothers and sisters born to Morgan and May Mason in Conshohocken PA. From an early age he supervised his siblings with games like stick your finger in a light socket, hold hands, and see how far the youngest child at the end of the chain jumped. He helped support the family by doing jobs ranging from carrying buckets of beer from the pub to tenants, collecting rent for a building owner, working in his grandfather's junk yard to filling donuts with cream at the bakery. After WWII, he left the land of cold and came south to work for the Frisco Railroad. His skills in the Navy as a telegrapher served him well in civilian life. Never one to be idle, Joe, Bettye and eventually their son Chuck operated businesses as varied as a telephone company, a fertilizer and limestone operation, gasoline bulk sales, and grain elevators. Always active, Joe taught himself tennis, and throughout his adult life was a well-known player at Texarkana Community College and any empty court he happened upon. He did not believe you should let the kids win, eventually causing great celebrations among the young adults who finally were able to beat him. Joe loved working with young men in baseball, Boy Scouts, and any water sport. Years ago, he was floating in the college pool and the lifeguard cleared the pool because he thought he had drowned. Joe was active in civic affairs, serving as city Recorder of Foreman, as well as serving in every capacity possible at St.Barnabas Episcopal Church. Joe served on South West Arkansas Water Board for 16 years. Joe also gave freely of his blood, being a universal donor. He loved his country, his church, his one true love Bettye, and our angel Joey. Joe loved his children Joe Charles (Ruthie) Mason, Sue Jackson, and Judy Kaye (Stephen Jones) Mason, but no greater love was given by him than to his grandchildren: Chris (Katherine) Mason and their daughters Ellie and Molly, Adam (Claire) Jones, Katie (Jonathon) Nunley, Laura (Robert) Butler and their children Bailey and Riley, Nancy (Shane) Cline and Polly Joe, Todd, Courtney, Matthew, and Mary Ann (Mike) Lipin and Anna Kate, Jacob, and Caleb. They learned to swim, boat, play tennis, and to drive at horrifyingly young ages and with wrecked golf carts, front end loaders, damaged office buildings, and countless flower gardens left to bear silent witness: "Papa was here, leading a joyful crew into mischief'." And so shall he ever be in the gardens of our Lord. Donation can be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Visitations will be at 306 South Schuman St, Foreman, AR. At 6 – 8 PM Monday June 5, 2017. This is Madden Funeral Home in Foreman, Ar. Funeral will be at 10am Tuesday 6, 2017 at St. Barnabas Church at 10 am, also in Foreman on Bell St.

Mr. Joseph Morgan Mason

October 5, 1923 - June 3, 2017