Bernard Joe Mason

Bernard Joe Mason, a longtime resident of north central Texas (Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Garland, Dallas, and McKinney), passed from this life on September 11, 2013 in Corinth, Texas. Joe was born November 15, 1925 to Emma Gertrude Cherry and Charles David Mason in Lillie, Louisiana. He spent the first 6 years of his life in Union Parish, LA before moving to Ft. Worth, TX, where he eventually held a job with Texas Motor Coaches. After graduating from Fort Worth, R. L. Paschal High School, he joined the U.S. Navy earning the rank of Seaman First Class. He served for two and one half years during WW II with duty calls on the islands of Guam, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Batangas. At the end of WW II he attended Texas Christian University before joining General Motors Buick GMC and the United Auto Workers (Local 816) until his death. Joe retired from General Motors in 1975. Joe was preceded in death by his wife of over 40 years, Mary Garland Williamson, who passed in January 2012. He is also preceded in death by his brother Jim Cherry Mason and sister-in-law Clara Sellers Mason. He is survived by his niece Diana Sue Mason of Corinth, first-cousin W. Ralph Holloway and wife Patsy of Dallas, and stepson Jeffrey Williamson and wife Carol of McKinney. Other surviving family members include grandson Eric Williamson and wife Kelly of Fort Worth, granddaughter Candace Williamson Walters and husband Danny of Allen, along with great-grandson Paxton Williamson and great-granddaughter Genevieve Walters. A Memorial service will be held Sunday, September 22, 2013 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home 601 S. Tennessee St., McKinney, TX with James Reid officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials in his honor be made to Goodland Academy, Box 1056, Hugo, OK, 74743.