Dewayne Mason
July 25, 1947 - April 22, 2025
James Dewayne Mason was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on July 25, 1947, and passed away on April 22, 2025. In a recent brief conversation about his obituary he said just put “Dewayne lived himself to death”, which sounds just like him.
However, to elaborate a bit: Dewayne attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Dewey, Oklahoma, graduating in 1965. A Bulldogger all the way! He attended OSU but then was called to a much harder version of education in the United States Navy in Chu Lai Vietnam, 1967-1968. He finished out his time in the Navy in San Diego and stayed on in California for a while with his favorite aunt, Rose Phipps. Among other adventures probably best left unsaid were regular jaunts to Mexico, where he acquired fringed leather vests and purses at a low cost, then sold them at his leather shop for inflated prices to the hippie chicks.
When the Navy was through with him, he headed to Medford Lakes, New Jersey to connect with his parents, his first wife Kay and daughter Stacey. However, a new adventure called as a job opportunity in New York City in silver recovery and away he went. That was the early 70s. He was embracing his country boy persona by wearing a suede jacket with sheepskin lining and cowboy boots with his newfound circle of friends, easily connecting him to the then popular TV show McCloud. This circle included award-winning photographers, fashion icons, artists and performers. Being Dewayne, when asked about his life in Oklahoma he would say his family owned a Naugahyde (a faux leather vinyl fabric) ranch. At his favorite watering hole somebody always played “Okie from Muskogee” on the jukebox when he walked in. In that same establishment he fabricated a game he called “Boo-Ray Ashtray.” He acted very seriously about following the rules of this fictitious game and people would gather around to watch as he slid ashtrays, saltshakers and books of matches around in some random pattern. He always won because he was the only one who knew the non-existent rules.
After a few years in NYC, adventure called Dewayne again, and off he went to Clearwater, Florida. There he discovered his true passion, working as an addiction counselor for the state of Florida.
After a couple of years Dewayne moved back to Copan, Oklahoma to reconnect to his roots, as his parents and some other family members had returned there. After several jobs, which included a stint managing a bait shop and writing an occasional fishing column for the sports section of the Bartlesville Examiner Enterprise, he was lured off on another adventure. His best friend from high school, Cotton Burnett, said he always wanted to live in Galveston, Texas, and convinced Dewayne to come along. What was intended to be a rather short adventure lasted 17 years. While there he interviewed for a job with a prestigious country club in the pro shop. When asked what he thought about the game of golf, Dewayne replied honestly, “It seems like a waste of pastureland to me.” They not only hired him but furnished him with golf clubs, shoes, and lessons so he could learn to appreciate the game. He never did learn to love golf, but he met some very interesting people including George and Barbara Bush who were regulars. The hospitality business appealed to him, and he wound up being the banquet manager for the Hotel Galvez for years. Dewayne was involved with the Galveston community and helped promote various tourist events, his favorite being Dickens on the Strand, an annual festival featuring Christmas-themed shows, parades, and vendors. He loved wearing Victorian costumes and mingling with the tourists, vendors and all attendees. While there he loved all the opportunities to deep sea fish and eat some fabulous food. Often in the very early hours of the morning after the restaurants closed, he enjoyed gathering at a cigar bar with other hospitality managers to compare stories of their days.
After the 17 years, “Free-Range Dewayne” crossed the Red River to come home again. He went back to his passion of addiction counseling, obtaining a Bachelor of Science at Rogers State University, studying Psychology/Substance Abuse at NSU earning a Master’s in Drug and Alcohol Counseling. Dewayne became a Senior Counselor and Staff Administrator for Rogers County Drug Abuse Program in Claremore. Besides individual counseling, he recognized the importance of the Drug Court program and dedicated himself to this program’s success. While working in Claremore during the week, he often spent his weekends in Copan with his aging parents, finding time to indulge in his hobbies of hunting and fishing: river fishing, lake fishing, pond fishing, deer hunting, bear hunting, turkey hunting, squirrel and rabbit hunting. He also enjoyed working on his parents’ acreage, creating two good ponds on the property which he kept stocked with fish.
One of those weekends coincided with the bi-annual Dewey High School Alumni Reunion. Dewayne decided to go. In Ponca City, Karen Brown, another member of the class, also decided to go. They had known each other since grade school and since neither one of them was shy they found plenty to talk about and enjoyed reconnecting. As they left the reunion, each in their own truck, Dewayne pulled over on the gravel road they were on, and Karen pulled over behind him. He walked back to her truck, she rolled down her window and he leaned in “kissed her in a bar ditch and it was all over,” as he loved to tell it. He popped the question under the huge willow tree in Karen’s backyard. On May 12, 2012, Karen officially became the “catch of his life”.
Now living In Ponca City, he joined the staff of Bridgeway, Inc. as the lead counselor for federal programs of drug and alcohol addiction, then added certification for gambling addiction. He also began teaching parenting classes. He retired from there several years ago.
Mischief always twinkled in Dewayne’s eyes. His joy in life was contagious. A list of his favorite things included: Jerry Jeff Walker, first light in a deer stand, fishing, teaching small children to fish, camo, hunting, “Gunsmoke,” eating a good steak, John Wayne, bear hunting with his buddy Lane Putnam, the Copan Truck Stop, road trips with friend Barry Splawn, little kids, dogs, peanut butter pie, Terry Pratchett novels.
An important part of his life was the time he spent at his home away from home on his property in Copan now known as “Camp Serenity,” sharing the camp life and upkeep with niece & hunting partner Keri Shoff who co-manages the camp and took on more of the hard work as Dewayne’s health declined. He loved sitting on the deck with Karen drinking coffee and watching the sunrise over the pond, watching the geese family, listening to the bullfrogs, riding the property in the Mule. He was so proud of it all.
Very early on the morning of April 22, after years of fighting failing health and five rough days in ICU at Ascension St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, he lost the battle while Karen held his hand.
Dewayne is survived by his wife Karen of the home; daughter Stacey Burland and granddaughter Jackie Rae of Hays, VA; granddaughter Tiffany Weddle of Poquoson, VA, her husband, Joe and two great grandsons, Joe Joe and Mason; granddaughter Jordan Card of Imperial Beach, CA, her husband Blakeslee, and great grandchildren, Joshua and Emma (these groups of family members visited from both coasts last summer after Dewayne fell ill); sister, Debbie Smith, her husband, Paul of Bartlesville, OK; nephew Gabriel Cochran and his kids Reese and Garrett of Bartlesville, OK. He is also survived by his favorite niece A’llysa “Little Bit” Cochran of Bartlesville OK. In addition, Karen’s family always made him feel welcome and includes Keith Stevens and wife Stephanie of Guthrie; Josh Stevens and wife Janelle and daughter Makynzie of the Dallas area. Also, Karen’s niece Keri Shoff, wife Tonilyn and children Emilee, Taylor, and Mason of Independence, MO.
He is preceded in death by his parents Calvin and Jackie Mason.
The family is planning a private gathering at Camp Serenity soon, where there will be U.S. Navy honors. They can remember Dewayne as they all tell stories about their time with him and his influence on their lives. This will be done lovingly with Dewayne’s famous beginning line: “Did I ever tell you about…”
Funeral Home in Charge
