IN MEMORY OF THOMAS G MASON
OUR OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
Thomas George Mason, 75, passed away on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Golden Palms Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Harlingen.
Tom was born on June 17, 1936 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin to Ormay Mason Freye and Jeremiah Mason. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he earned a BBA degree in real estate and finance. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Tom was Broker/Owner of Mason and Company since 1962.
He was an active member of the Texas and Rio Grande Valley Apartment Association and the Harlingen Board of Realtors. Tom was also a member of the Texas and Harlingen Association of Independent Insurance Agents and the National and Texas Association of Realtors. He was a trustee of the HCISD school board, a member of the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce Six Shooter Club where he was awarded the Harry J. Feldman Award, and a received a Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of Harlingen. Tom was appointed to the Harlingen Board of Adjustments, Capital Improvement Board, Board of Equalization and the Planning and Zoning Committee. He also served on the Harlingen Beef Club Board of Directors, Rio Grande Valley Cotton Committee, was a member of the Al Amin Shrine Temple, and belonged to the Masonic Lodge #1132. He was a member of the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce and most recently served on the Municipal Auditorium Advisory Board. Tom's love was the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show where he served as a director since 1964 and was the Chairman of the Buyer, Carnival and Concession, and the Scholarship Committees. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served as Chairman of the Finance, Endowment, Administrative Board, and the Board of Trustees, and was an usher for many years.
Tom is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Joy Mason of Harlingen, son, Thomas George Mason II of Dallas, and his daughter, Holly Leatherman (Carl) of Harlingen. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Kelsey Joy Omick of Fort Worth and Kendall Anastatia Omick of Austin. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, step father Sam Freye, and his brother Jerry Mason who died just a year ago.
The family wishes to express a special thanks to his personal nurses, Angela Ascencio, Victoria Garza, Julie Gonzalez, Gabriela Guzman, Veronica Quintero, Nicole Horkman, Allan Takona, Debbie Moturi, and his speech therapist, Suber Zabrinia (Z). A special thank you to the nurses and doctors at VBMC, the wonderful staff and therapists at Golden Palms Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center for their care and support through Tom's illness, and to Mari Rivera, his longtime personal assistant at Mason & Company.
A private gravesite service will be held for the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Mason Farm Unit of Dorothy Carnes, Jefferson County Parks Department, 320 South Main Street, Jefferson, Wisconsin, 53549; the LVN Scholarship Fund, Valley Baptist Medical Foundation, PO Box 2588, Harlingen, Texas 78551-9982; or the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Scholarship Fund, 1000 North Texas Avenue, Mercedes, Texas 78570
A Great Place to Live
Harlingen, Texas has an exceptional quality of life. Good schools, delicious food, exceptional healthcare, friendly atmosphere and a low cost of living are just a few of this areas favorable attributes. Also, the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island and romantic Mexico are just minutes away.
Harlingen's relaxed lifestyle and thriving economy is built on vegetables and citrus, but it is aggressively diversifying. Logistics, manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and services are bringing more and more visitors and residents.
The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District has earned the "Recognized District" distinction from the Texas Education Agency for seven consecutive years, and all of the district's 21 eligible schools have been either TEA Exemplary or Recognized during the past four years.