Jack M Mason

1927 - 2016

Former Juneau resident Jack M. Mason died August 11 at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was 88.

Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, on December 9, 1927, he spent his early years in Idaho. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor Jack went to work in the Bremerton (Washington) Navy Yard. He later quit school to work full time. Later he joined the Merchant Marine and served on tankers in the South Pacific. After being discharged from the Merchant Marine he joined the Army Transport Service and arrived in Seward, Alaska on a troop transport. He recounted later that he knew then that Alaska would be his home. For the next two and a half years he worked on boats throughout coastal Alaska. In January 1952 he was drafted into the Army for two years and stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage.

Upon returning to Juneau he worked at Lemon Creek Sand & Gravel. He worked on pouring the foundations for the towers at Vanderbilt Hill.

In 1955 he married Jean Vavalis in Juneau. In 1958 the couple moved to Sitka after their third child was born where Jack worked in a pulp mill as a heavy equipment operator. Later the family returned to Juneau and raised their family here.

Jack, who was often known by the nickname Red, had an entrepreneurial spirit and owned several businesses in Juneau. He started the J.M. Construction Company and later bought Airport Sales and Service, a garage at the junction of Glacier Highway and the Loop Road. There the couple opened Mason's Café. After closing the restaurant in 1969 he bought a gas station on Tenth Street that became Mason's Chevron. He also added Alaska Auto Towing to the business. Jack was a charter member of the Glacier Volunteer Fire Department and became assistant fire chief, eventually becoming fire chief.
Eventually he sold the gas station and towing business and served full-time as fire chief.

He was the president of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and active in the Gastineau Channel Little League, Gastineau Manor, Juneau 4th of July Committee, and the Juneau chapter of the American Heart Association. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In 1983 he retired from the fire department and moved to Port Protection on Prince of Wales Island where, with business partners, he re-opened the store and built a dock and boat floats. After buying out his partners Jack continued to operate the Wooden Wheel Cove Trading Post as well as other commercial interests including the fuel dock, fish buying business, laundry, and fishing lodge. Even though his holdings in Port Protection were destroyed by fire on two occasions, Jack rebuilt and continued his operations. He also worked as a hunting guide.
Jack will be remembered by his friends and family as independent, hard working, resourceful, and generous. Up until his last days he was energetic and vigorous. His children recall the work ethic he instilled in them.

He is survived by wife Arlene (Navidad) Mason of Port Protection. He is also survived by daughter Jackie Johnson Pata (Chris) of Fairfax, Virginia; daughter Joanne Mason (Eric Peter), son Jim Mason (Suzanne), son John Mason (Janice), daughter Judy Mason-Ballou (Scott Ballou) all of Juneau; and daughter Juanita Fuller (Norman) of Wasilla. He is survived by stepdaughter Heart Navidad Kolakis and stepsons Vercent Navidad and Ja Navidad.

He is also survived by 21 grandchildren: Jake and Jace Mason; Janell Andrews; Shawna Puustinen; Chatham and Jeremy Timothy; Jamie Gomez; Jodi Watts; Harley Seifert; Carley Jean Jackson; Haley Ballou; T.J., Erik, Loryn, and Shannon Mason; Elle Roelofs; Jenna and Alex Fuller; Kyle Ballou and Kristin Smallwood; and Leslie Pata. He is survived by 27 great grandchildren.

He is also survived by sisters Lucille Tidwell of Washington and Joan Kellen of Montana, and uncle Leonard Buckley of Florence, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by sisters Margaret Dindinger and Betty Fanning, and brothers Mace G. Mason, James Mason, and Charles Mason. He was also preceded in death by grandson Macord Mason-Peter.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday August 20 at 2:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (near Lemon Creek), 5100 Glacier Highway.
A private viewing for family and friends will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Friday August 19 at Alaskan Memorial Park, 3839 Riverside Drive, Juneau.