Gary Mason, 73, had a passion for percussion
April 9, 2020
Robert Gary Mason of Litchfield by the Sea, a founding member of the Pawleys Island Concert Band, died March 31 at his home in Maggie Valley, N.C., with his wife, Pamela, by his side. He was 73.
The son of Ruth Holloway Mason and Frank Hugh “Pete” Mason Jr., he lived in Rossville, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn. Known as Gary, he graduated from City High School in Chattanooga in 1964 and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1968 with a degree in engineering physics. His professional career included construction design, construction management and school fundraising. He retired as an area manager with Home Depot.
Mr. Mason was chairman of the board for the Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga and served on the board for the S.C. Safe Home Program. He was known for his integrity and upstanding way of doing business.
His love of music began as a boy when he sang with the Chattanooga Boys’ Choir. He later became director of the Wonderful Word Acapella Chorus. While in high school, he began his tenure with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra as a tympani player.
In a 2007 interview, Mr. Mason recalled practicing drumming in his dining room as a teenager. “My mother moved out the dining room table so I could play,” he said.
He continued to play with the symphony for 30 years.
Mr. Mason also had his own band, The Inside Five, which won a Nashville competition and cut an album.
“You know music is supposed to bring joy to those who listen, but it also brings joy to those of us who make music,” he said.
He shared that with family and friends, with whom he spent time making music. They remembered his beautiful tenor voice would ring and his guitar would sing along.
After moving to Pawleys Island in 2002, Mr. Mason became a founding member of the Pawleys Island Concert Band. He also served as president of its board.
He was also a member of Grand Strand Church of Christ in Surfside Beach.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Lori (Chad) Wortman and grandsons Mason (Kelsey), Ross, Wesley and William Wortman; his daughter, Amy Butcher, and grandsons Alex and Andrew Butcher; his sister, Connie Brown (Larry) and nieces Stacie Henson (John) and Rebecca Denton (Brad) and their children, Cole and Anslee Denton; his step-children, Valerie Green (Sean Kennedy) and grandson Weston Green-Kennedy, Robert Green, Claire Weaver (Craig) and granddaughters Phoebe and Lilah Weaver.
Services will be scheduled when family and friends can gather safely. To receive notice, include your email address in the guest book at smokymountaincremations.com.
Memorials may be made to the Snack Pack Ministry, East Brainerd Church of Christ, 7745 East Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421 (eastbrainerdchurch.org).
