OBIT: Richard Ferguson MASON, 1932, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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RICHARD F. MASON

  Richard Ferguson Mason, for more than 24 years one of Meyersdale's outstanding 
and public spirited citizens, succumbed to the ravages of a malignant disease, 
October 13, 1932, after several weeks' serious illness.  He passed away at 11 
o'clock Thursday night, October 13th, in the Wenzel Hospital in which he had 
been a patient since the last previous Sunday.  His death was not unexpected, 
but nevertheless was a severe shock to his family and many friends.
  Mr. Mason was born on a farm near Union Falls, W.Va., May 5, 1870, and lived 
to the age of 62 years, 5 months and 8 days.  He was a son of John and Sarah 
McGee Mason.  After taking a teaching course in the Fairmont State Normal School 
he taught in the public schools of West Virginia for several years and later 
entered into the employ of the Consolidation Coal Company, at Watson, W.Va., as 
a company store manager.  From Watson he was sent as manager of the Farnum and 
Glen Falls, W.Va., company stores, and in 1908 to Meyersdale as General Manager 
of the Dull Mercantile Company stores of the Consolidation Coal Company.  When 
the Dull Mercantile Company was incorporated Mr. Mason was made vice president.  
He continued in that capacity about 19 years until the Meyersdale store of the 
Dull Mercantile Company was closed in 1927.
  After the severance of his connection with the Dull Mercantile Company, Mr. 
Mason devoted most of his time to his interests in the Fairview Orchards near 
Martinsburg, W.Va., and the Gainers Run Coal Company near Clarksburg, W.Va., of 
which company he was president.
  Mr. Mason was one of Meyersdale's most exemplary and public-spirited citizens.  
At all times he was interested in any movement for the growth of the town and 
the welfare of its citizens.  He was especially interested in the youth of the 
town and did much in promoting the equipment of the public play ground and 
community athletic field.  He served two terms as a member of the Meyersdale 
School Board, both terms as president of the board.  No school director in 
Meyersdale ever gave more of his time and personal effort to the advancement or 
improvement of the public schools of the borough.  He devoted much of his 
leisure time to physical labor in renovating and beautifying the school grounds 
and school building.
  Mr. Mason belonged to Herman Lodge, No. 6, A.F. & A.M., at Clarksburg, W.Va.  
He was a Knight Templer for 20 years, attending most of the Masonic meetings 
held in the Meyersdale lodge halls, while a resident of Meyersdale.  He was also 
for some time a member of the Meyersdale Rotary Club.
  In 1900 he was united in marriage with Bernice Nixon, at Eldora, W.Va.  They 
started their married life together at Farnum, W.Va., and later moved to 
Meyersdale.  To this union were born four daughters and one son, who with their 
mother survive.  The children are:  Ethel, wife of Rev. Wayne Daubenspeck, of 
Oshkosh, Nebraska; Catherine, a teacher in the high school at Rowlesburg, W.Va.; 
Louise (Mrs. E. L. Keller) of Toledo, Ohio; Ruth, a student in the University of 
West Virginia, Morgantown, and Victor S. Paul Mason, an employee of the National 
City Bank of New York City.  Two brothers, D. R. Mason, of Clarksburg, W.Va., J. 
T. Mason, of Farmington, W.Va., and three sisters, Mrs. W. W. Carpenter, 
Fairmont, W.Va.; Mrs. W. T. Tucker, of Bridgeport, W.Va., and Mrs. Thomas 
Motters, Valley Falls, W.Va., also survive.
  Funeral services were conducted Sunday morning at 9 o'clock in the Mason home 
on Broadway, by Rev. B. A. Black, D.D., pastor of Amity Reformed Church, who 
paid a glowing tribute to the deceased as an exemplary citizen and devoted 
husband and father.
  The obsequies were attended by nearly all the leading citizens of Meyersdale.  
At the conclusion of the services conducted by Dr. Black, the funeral cortege 
started for Eldora, W.Va., where another short service was held in the Methodist 
Protestant Church by the pastor, Rev. Bagshaw, followed by interment in the 
Clairmont Cemetery.  Undertaker W. C. Price had charge of the funeral 
arrangements.  Members of the Meyersdale Masonic Lodge acted as pallbearers.

Meyersdale Republican, October 20, 1932