Charles Mason, Jr.

Close your eyes and imagine if you will a pristine clear fresh water lake in the Great Smoky Mountains. It's breathtaking as the sun light shimmers across the rippled water. You see off in the distance a white boat with its Mariner engine on its plane going full bore. The boat is a closed bow fish and ski; its name was Manatee. In the pilot seat sits a gentleman singing as loud as he can, with gigantic smile on his face and a disposition to match. The song playing on the cassette player was by Jim Stafford. Can you name the song? I can, like it was yesterday. That beautiful gentleman is Charles Edward Mason Jr.

Charles E. Mason Jr. is the retired President of CHF Sales Corporation and resident of Gainesville, GA. He left this mortal world to go home to be with his family in heaven on January 1, 2017 at 5:15 PM after a long battle with dementia, and complications from congestive heart failure.

Charles is survived by his endearing and loyal wife of 49 years Jan Irene Mason, his devoted children Christine Lynn Mason, Charles Edward Mason III and wife Mellissa, and Stephanie Ann Mason, his loving grandchildren Charles Edward Mason IV, Warren Cole English, Anderson Efigenio and Kathryn Evelyn Mason, his brother Bruce James Mason Sr. and wife Jamie Sue, his sister Nancy Ellen and husband Robert Shawver, His sister-in-law Roxanne Jane Verdeaux, his mother-in-law Irene Evelyn Lockman, and his 16 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents Charles Edward Mason Sr. and Evelyn May, his father-in-law Herbert Widgery Lockman and brother-in-law John Verdeaux Sr.

Charles was born on March 7th, 1947 to Charles and Evelyn Mason in Patterson, NJ. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduated in 1969 with a BS in Business Management. After finding the woman of his dreams in Seaside Park, NJ, he married Jan Irene Lockman on January 19th, 1968. On June 20th, 1968, April 17th, 1970 and June 12th, 1971 respectively, he welcomed his three children in to the world and they all became a collectively influential presence in each other's lives.

Charles is a devoted father, doting grandfather, and loved the water. He enjoyed hunting in his youth, but fishing and boating was his passion and relaxation. His travels lead him to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Alaska, Japan, Hawaii and Brazil not to mention all the cities and states he had seen. Charles loved to sing and had a voice of an angel. He could often be found in the basement singing "Only You", "Unchained Melody" or some other tune in his collection on his personal Karaoke machine. He was a self-made man beginning as a bank teller, math teacher, salesman, store manager, Sales Vice President and ultimately starting and owning his own business for 35 years.

He was the epitome of a gentleman, and of rare integrity and valor. Although he was passionate about many things, he was modest at heart. An extremely sharp man, and always true to his word. Above all in his heart, he was a Christian man of God. He was scholarly in the knowledge of his faith. When moving to Georgia in 1978, he regularly attended Dunwoody United Methodist Church where he befriended Rev. Melton McNeill and became close personal friends. Since moving to Gainesville, GA he joined the congregation of Gainesville First United Methodist Church. Charles Edward Mason Jr was and is an incredible soul, one which his presence in the flesh will be deeply missed, and one whose spirit will live on in each and every one of us who knew and loved him.

To those who truly knew Charles, the beginning of this tribute should speak volumes. Passionate about his family and life, relentless in setting and achieving his goals, and all the while a sense of humor that would hurt your sides from laughing to hard. That is why it is so hard to say goodbye to this great and beautiful man. The name of that song is "My Wife Ran off with the Garbage man", the lake was Nantahala in North Carolina, and the summer's one will never forget.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 PM on January 8th, 2017 at Gainesville First United Methodist Church at 2780 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506. Rev. Melton McNeill & Associate Pastor Kathy Lamon will co-officiate. In lieu of Flowers, please make donations in the name of Charles E. Mason Jr to Halcyon Hospice at 731 Queen City Parkway, Suite 204, Gainesville, GA 30501. Condolences may be offered at the place of service. A reception will be held at the church immediately following the memorial.