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Jacqueline "Jackie"(Curtis)
& Calvin Coolidge Mason Tombstone Photo
Dewey Cemetery, Dewey, Washington Co. OK
Born on November 5, 1924 to Clarence C and Nellie Martha
Ellis Mason in Cold Springs Missouri. Calvin was the
youngest of five children. His nickname was "Cotton
Top".
His working life started as a helper on the family farm.
He was educated by his smart and talented mother who
gave him undivided attention before his school years
since all of the other siblings were in school.
As a child, one of his jobs was to set on the back
fender of the tractor and kick the hay bail out of the
bailer. One night, he fell off after kicking a bail and
his dad didn't know until he made another round where
his dad found him lying in the grass without a scratch.
His dad immediately stopped the tractor, picked him up
and rushed him home saying "I love you, I'm sorry" over
and over.
Calvin's best friend growing up was Bill Curtis. Bill
was the middle child of 3, one of which was Jackie
Curtis. Calvin and Jackie never dated before the war. As
Calvin would put it, they were just friends.
He worked at J&S Foundry during his school years. His
first job was to pick up, clean and sort bolts out of
the ash floor in the foundry that was made from the
remains of burnt firewood. This was how he learned all
the different fastener dimensions and threat pitches.
During this time, his brother Everett showed him in the
shop how you could take molten metal and pour it into a
sand mold and make a casting. To him, that was the most
fascinating thing he had ever seen. Making useful things
from molten metal and sand became a passion that guided
the rest of his life. He decided to quit school a month
before graduation. His father set him down and said "So,
you are quitting school, well, if that is what you want
to do then that's your choice. I won't step in and
change your decision unless I need to".
Calvin enlisted in the Navy as a Seabee on June 18, 1943
where he served his country in the South Pacific during
WWII starting in the Solomon Islands and finishing
in Okinawa. He received his honorable discharge in
February of 1946 in San Francisco, CA after a month long
boat ride from Okinawa. He returned by bus and foot to
his hometown of Dewey, Ok. As he walked up to his
brother Cecil's house in his uniform carrying his sea
bag, he remembered seeing Charlie's little head peeking
through the window.
Calvin married Jacqueline (Jackie) Curtis on September
21, 1946 and they made their home in Dewey.
Following the war, he turned down an opportunity to
attend Oklahoma A&M but remained an avid OSU fan for the
rest of his life. He received the GI-Bill and instead of
going to college, learned to fly an airplane. Returning
to the Bartlesville area he went to work in various
manufacturing businesses. He started Blue Stem foundry
in Dewey Oklahoma in the early 1950s. While there he
built such well known houses as the Joe Price house
known as Shin'en Kan designed by Bruce Goff. He also
built the famous chairs designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
for the Price Tower, and the hand railing on the outside
staircase. The most difficult casting he ever made was
the connecting piece between the straight rails where
one flight ends and the next begins. This was the
beginning of a lifelong relationship with both
architects, Mr. Wright and Mr. Goff. His famous line to
Mr. Wright was "If you can draw it I can build it."
Calvin was an amazing, brilliant man that was loved and
respected by people around the world.
In 1966 he moved his wife and daughter to Medford Lakes,
New Jersey where he worked for a company called Linemelt
under the direction of the late Jim Hoff servicing
Induction-type Metal Melting Furnaces. He started as a
service technician then shortly after became service
manager and on to VP of Linemelt which by that time was
owned by Inductotherm Corporation. He became the world
renowned expert in Induction Metal Melting and
Metallurgy. His customer base was from J&S Foundry in
Dewey, OK to Ford Motor Company and Chrysler in the US
and multiple major foundries in Europe, Latin America,
China, and Australia. The majority of his domestic
service calls and customer visits were done in a Twin
Engine Piper Commanche. His best line for closing deals
was "An Oklahoma Guarantee" which means – "If it doesn't
work you can call me a Sumbitch!!"
In 1980 after retiring from Inductotherm, he moved to
Rogers, Arkansas for a couple years and worked as a
consultant in a foundry with Inductotherm furnaces
located in Luling, TX. His method of travel was flying
his own Piper Single Engine Airplane back and forth so
he could be home with Jackie, his daughter, and new
grandson on weekends.
He then made his home in Copan, OK building Jackie's
dream home. The big dome house was one of his most
treasured accomplishments. After the home was completed
in 1983, Calvin returned to work as manager of Superior
Manufacturing in Dewey. He retired from Superior
Manufacturing in 1991 and spent his remaining years at
home with his wife, and family. Calvin passed peacefully
on Monday evening, August 8th 2016, in his home with his
loving daughter right by his side.
Calvin was preceded in death by the love of his life
Jackie Mason on May 5, 2005. Living to 91 Calvin was
also preceded in death by his brothers, Cecil Edward,
Everett Leslie, Merle Raymond and sister, Ethel Lorene
and his parents.
Calvin is survived by his son, James Dewayne Mason and
wife, Karen of Ponca City, his daughter, Deborah Kay
Smith and husband, Paul of Copan, granddaughter, Stacey
Burland of Newport-News, Virginia, grandson, Gabriel
Calvin Cochran and wife, Julie of Coweta, OK and
grandson, Basil Smith of Dewey. Great-granddaughters,
A'llysa Paige (Little Bit) Cochran of Tahlequah, Reese
Gabriella Cochran of Coweta, Tiffany K. Weddle and
husband, Joe of Virginia, Jordan Card and husband, Blake
of California and Jackie Rae Burland of Virginia.
Great-grandson, Garrett Warren Cochran of Coweta and
great-great grandson, Joe-Joe Weddle of Virginia. He was
also survived by countless nieces and nephews who were
all an important part of his life.
Along life's many journeys, very special people entered
his life and they became family. Paul and Karen
Cervellero and sons Chris and Mark of Pennsylvania and
Frank and Heather Smith and sons Mathew and Phillip of
California.
Calvin will be missed by people all around the world.
But rest assured he is where he wanted to be.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:00 AM-8:00 PM
in the Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home. Family will
be present to greet friends on Friday from 6-8:00 PM.
Closed Casket Graveside Memorial Service will be held on
Saturday August 13th at 11:00 am in the Dewey City
Cemetery.
Family and friends are welcome to his home for
lunch and a great celebration!!
Arrangements are under the direction of the Arnold Moore
& Neekamp Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left
at
www.honoringmemories.com.
Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home
710 Southeast Dewey
Bartlesville,
OK
74003
918-336-5225
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