February 24, 1933 - May 10, 2022
Donald Dean Mason passed away on May 10, 2022, at the Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg at the age of 89. He was the second child born on the family farm in Rooks County on Feb. 24, 1933, to Charles Frances and Bernita Mildred (Camp) Mason.
Don grew up in Rooks County and started his education at a country school, New Hope, before attending Stockton High School and graduating with the class of 1950. Immediately following high school, Don moved to Wichita, where he worked several jobs before landing a job as an insurance agent for City Service Insurance. The company moved him to Oklahoma City, and he worked until his retirement at 55.
Don met his life partner, Richard Shonts, and the couple moved to Tampa, Fla., and bought a motel. They later sold the motel in 1988 and moved back to Oklahoma, following his father’s passing to be closer to his mother. Don loved spending time with his family; his mother’s cooking was his favorite. He was a kind and soft-spoken man who enjoyed his time with family and partner. He found joy in thunderstorms, dancing and teaching others how to dance as well as any sporting event.
He is survived by his sister, Kay (Bob) Riffel of Stockton.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bernita Mason; life partner, Richard Shonts; and siblings, Robert (Doris) Mason and Marvel (Joe) Yoxall.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2022, at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and from noon to service time on Friday.
Memorials are suggested to the Phillips County Retirement Center and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First, Stockton, KS 67669.