Mason Scott McLeod

McLEOD Mason Scott McLeod, 26, beloved son, nephew, cousin, friend, and a consummate student of our world, passed away while serving our country in the National Park Service on August 21, 2010 in Katmai National Park in Alaska. Mason was born March 30, 1984. He was a National Merit Scholar and FSU graduate who attended the Duke TIP Program for 4 years. Mason thrived as an interpretive ranger at Everglades National Park in the winter and at Katmai National Park in the summer. He will be remembered for his unique spirit and smirk, his remarkable understanding of the natural world, his quick wit, and his never-ending mission to always 'Keep it Real.' A Jacksonville native who possessed surprising talents on the harmonica and on the flag-football field, he was a volunteer coach in youth flag football and had an unwavering dedication to the Jaguars. He also worked in the extended-day program at Chet's Creek Elementary School. He recently earned his private pilot's license while visiting his family and friends in Jacksonville. Mason's exceptional talents and keen disposition can be seen through his own description of his favorite animal - the trout. You can find the secret of life, he wrote, in the mysterious colors and designs on a trout's back, where you see that, "buried in those endless lines of code that are DNA sequences, there is a hidden instinct for creativity and beauty. Always yearning to come out, we catch glimpses of it in all our living things, but it is on the back of trout that this instinct was finally manifest in all its glory." A memorial will be held on Tuesday(TODAY), Dec. 28 at 2:30 p.m at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer (7500 Southside Blvd.), by Father Richard Turk, followed at 4 p.m. by a celebration of Mason's Life at the Fraternal Order of Police (5530 Beach Blvd.). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mason's memory to Trout Unlimited (tu.org). He is survived by parents Steve and Sue McLeod; uncles and aunts Steve and (Peggy) Arnold, Scott and (Chris) Arnold, Gary and (Wendy) McLeod; cousins Adam and (Kim) Arnold, Shannon and Davin Arnold, Danielle and Kate Arnold, Michelle and (Mike) Medford, Kristy McLeod; four second cousins, and many devoted friends.

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