David William Mason

August 29, 1950 — November 8, 2024

David (Dave) William Mason, 74, was born at Stillwater Medical Center August 29, 1950, to Glen O. Mason and Geraldine (Jerry) (Reaves) Mason, who have preceded him in death. Dave passed away Friday, November 8, 2024, at his home in Perry.

After graduating from Perry High School in 1968, Dave met his future wife, Paula, when he was living and working in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Paula Covert was a senior in high school, attending the University of Tulsa in the afternoons. They rekindled their romance in 2005 and married in 2006. Dave was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Elks Lodge, and Knights of Columbus.

His family started Kart Racing in 1959 and continued until 1973. The peak of Dave’s KART Racing was in 1966, racing and qualifying for the IKF National Enduro Racing Championship in Indianapolis, IN, event, placing fifth. Dave also participated in wrestling and Boy Scouts, obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

After high school, he graduated from Automation Machine Training School in Kansas City, MO, in July 1968 and from the University of Central Oklahoma, May of 1974, with a BA in education. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega, ZN chapter fraternity.

Dave’s first teaching assignment was Agate High School, Agate, CO, then Denver Public Schools, Denver, CO, and then years at Sheridan High School, Sheridan, CO, as girls’ volleyball coach and wrestling coach/referee. While with the Oklahoma City School District, Dave worked at Star Spencer High School teaching drama and computers and coached wrestling where he developed a competitive team producing the first individual State Wrestling Championship since 1967. At Classen School of Advanced Studies he taught International Baccalaureate University Level Computer Science to grade eight to senior students, and coached girl’s track, with back-to-back State 5A Girls’ Track Team Champions.

When awaiting the birth of his first child, he changed his career, using his experience with computers and banking in a position with Metro National Bank, Denver, CO. After three years as Data Processing Officer, he took a position with the Affiliated Banks Service Company in Thornton, CO, as check processing manager. He later was put in a position to utilize the enormous computer system that was basically idle during the day. He then moved to processing Motor Vehicle License Renewals for Colorado County Governments. He helped develop an election processing system to keep track of residents who had not voted in the last two major elections due to moving, etc., and implemented a new property tax service printing, mailing and receiving annual property tax payments for the five major surrounding county clerks.

The family moved to Yukon, Oklahoma, in 1991. Dave lived and worked with computers during the growth of the personal computer, creating new applications with testing, implementation, and usage. In 1999, Dave accepted a position with Perry Public School District, becoming the first technology coordinator, until his early 2004 retirement due to medical reasons.

David is survived by sister, Glenna Mason Deaner, Perry; son, Army Maj. David William Mason II, and wife Michelle Lee Mason, Elizabethtown, KY; grandsons: Benjamin Jeffery Mason, George William Mason and Andrew Oliver Mason; daughters: Jenni Lynn Mason, Denver, CO, and Jennifer Austin Nance, Charlotte, NC; grandson Dakota Bloodworth, Ponca City; granddaughter, Cameron McKenna George, Highland Ranch, CO: the mother of his children: Valarie Lynn Mason, Highland Ranch, CO; Uncle Ted Mason and Aunt Judy Mason, Guthrie; and numerous cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Paula C. Mason.

A memorial service has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church Perry. Rev. Bala Raju Padota will officiate. Burial will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Perry Wrestling Foundation or Knights of Columbus of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.