John Mason

Mr. John Thomas Mason, age 81, of Cherry Log, passed away January 30, 2022, at Union General Hospital.

He was the son of the late Alice Dolan and Thomas Lawrence Mason, of Ireland.

He graduated high school from Xavier High School, New York, New York, in 1958.

John was a graduate of United States Coast Guard Academy (1962) earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering and later serving on the Coast Guard Cutters Castle Rock and the Bibb. While at the academy, John was active with the soccer, rifle and sailing teams. He retired from active and reserve duty with the Coast Guard with the rank of Commander in Miami, Florida.

In the early 1980s, John and his family moved to Aiken, South Carolina, where John served as the deputy director of Safeguards and Security with the Department of Energy at the Savannah River Site.

John was active in his children’s life by coaching basketball, attending school events and spending time with them.

John was an avid boater and  especially enjoyed family time on the lake.  John was active in his church, St. Mary’s, and the Cursillo Movement. Upon the illness of his wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Greaney Mason, he and the family moved back “home” to Miami where they remained in touch over the years with loved church family and friends. John worked as a civilian for the Coast Guard during this time and was very active in Epiphany Church.

After the death of Dorothy, John married Elizabeth “Betty” Franz. Betty and John lived in Miami briefly and moved to Pompano Beach, Florida, until they both retired. After retirement, they moved permanently to Blue Ridge where John was active in his church and community.  He became a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church in 2004 where he served the Parish of St. Anthony’s Church until his death.

He served as a member of local ministerial organizations, the Georgia Mountain Patriots and the Fannin County Republican Party as a precinct captain.

John will be greatly missed by his family, grandchildren and his community.  He was preceded in death by his parents; and his first wife Dorothy Greaney Mason (married May 9, 1964).

Survivors include his wife, Betty Mason, (married May 26, 1990); three children and their spouses, Jeanne Mason Lyles (Bill), Eileen Mason Kittrell (Sean) and Thomas Edward Mason; grandchildren, William Gordon IV and John Mason Lyles, Kathleen Anne Kittrell, Sean Michael Kittrell and John Lawrence Kittrell; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Mason Suriani (Frank); nephew and nieces, Peter Suriani, Christine Suriani Neenan and Alice Suriani; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A Funeral Mass will be conducted Friday, February 18, 2022, at 11 a.m. from the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church with Father John Conway officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the Georgia National Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Coast Guard. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday February 17, 2022, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a prayer service to begin at 7:30 p.m.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com

Akins-Cobb, of Blue Ridge, is in charge of the arrangements.