Obituary of Owen Winchell Mason

Owen Winchell Mason 1933 ~ 2011 Owen Winchell Mason was born on his uncle’s farm near Rocky Mountain House Alberta, on January 30th, 1933. Born to parents Noel and Hazel Mason, Owen was the fourth of twelve children. A former resident of the Hines Creek area in Alberta, Owen resided in the Taylor area for the past 55 years of his life. Owen passed away peacefully in Dawson Creek on May 13th, 2011 at the age of 78 years. When Owen was born, he joined siblings Gert, Bernice, and Buzz. Ruthie and Noela followed soon after. When Owen was 5, his parents loaded their six kids into a covered wagon. Pulled by a team of horses and leading a milk cow, they embarked on a long journey north to join relatives already in the Peace River country. Noel and Hazel filed on homestead land soon after arriving in the Montagneause Valley area just north of Hines Creek Alberta. The family continued to grow, and another 6 brothers and sisters followed. Frank, Elmer, Albert, Wilma, Jack and Michael helped to fill up all the extra space in the three room log house. Owen attended the Montagneause Valley School until heading out to work full time when he was in his early teens. He worked as a farm hand, horse logger and truck driver before starting a serious career in the construction trade. In the early 50’s, he found work in Grande Prairie building a new oil refinery. Owen then moved to Uranium City where he worked on construction at Gunnar Mines. After the job in Uranium City, Owen headed to BC to work on a new gas plant being built in Taylor. While working in Taylor he met Goldie Lundquist, a local girl from Feller’s Heights. Owen and Goldie were married on October 25th, 1957. The high paying construction work was exchanged for a steady and secure maintenance job at the newly built plant in Taylor, and the couple began making a home for themselves. Pat came along in 1958, Laurie in 1961 and Mike in 1963. Their first house across from the plant in Taylor was home for 16 years. In 1975 a new home was built at the top of the South Taylor hill, and soon the family expanded further. Pat and Loraine Myatt were married in 1978, and provided Owen and Goldie with three grandchildren. Christy, Noel and Kaylea. In 1981 Laurie married Bill Bellamy, and Trent, Kaleb and Ashton soon joined the family. Mike and Lisa Van Vaals were married in 1992, and Sam and Emily followed shortly after. Owen retired in 1996 after 41 years at the plant, and was able to relax and enjoy life with Goldie and his eight grandkids. His grandchildren became one of the most important aspects of his life. When Kaleb and Kaitlyn Bellamy were married in 2008, Owen welcomed a new great grandson, Cy Simpson, into the family. Great granddaughter Brice arrived in April of 2011. Owen was proud of his rich family history and pioneer heritage. His character reflected old time values for hard work, honesty, respect of others, and love of family. Owen loved hunting, fishing, camping and hockey. He also loved horses, and a favourite hobby was restoring horse drawn equipment. He loved music as long as it was country and he enjoyed playing his guitar and singing along with the rest of the family. Owen coached minor hockey and little league baseball, and was a Cub Scout leader. He was a member of the Taylor Volunteer Fire Department for many years and was a registered member of the Taylor Civil Defence Program. Owen loved to have fun. He loved family gatherings, parties and dances. He loved to trade jokes and was always game for a good practical joke, even if it was on him. Owen was predeceased by his wife Goldie, in December 2007. He was also predeceased by parents Noel and Hazel, and siblings Noela, Bernice, Michael, Buzz and Albert. Owen will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered, by everyone who knew him. A funeral service was held on May 19, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Taylor Community Hall, Taylor, British Columbia. An interment followed in the Peace Valley Cemetery, Taylor, British Columbia. Pastor Wally Pohlmann officiated. Eulogy was read by Greg Mason.