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Roger Hugh Derek Mason, the much-beloved husband of Mary Kay Mason, was born on November 16, 1950 in Richmond, England to Derek and Audrey Mason, and died on Saturday, February 15, 2025 in Conway, South Carolina, with Mary Kay at his bedside. Roger was a terrific and attentive husband, and he and Mary Kay had a wonderful, more than 45-year love story enhanced by their deep and abiding Catholic faith. Roger thoroughly enjoyed both veggie and flower gardening (and riding about on his John Deere lawnmower), cooking, and volunteering with the Marriage Encounter and Marriage Enrichment ministries through the Catholic Church. He loved their many dogs and cats over the years, and traveling, especially cruises. Roger soon converted to Catholicism after his marriage to Mary Kay, and throughout their many travels, they very rarely missed a weekend Catholic Mass, no matter where they were in the world. Shortly thereafter, Roger was very proud and honored to become an American citizen, and enjoyed his ensuing civic privileges and duties. Roger was an exceptionally dedicated and hard worker, and he was employed for many years in managerial positions throughout various regions of the United States. Much of his youth was spent in Southern California, where he grew up with his "Irish twin" brother Nigel, and sisters Michele and Jacqueline. In his youth, Roger loved going surfing in the early, chilly morning hours with Nigel, frequenting the glorious beaches of Santa Monica, Malibu and Zuma. He attended North Hollywood High School in the late 1960s, and later studied industrial engineering and business management at California State University in Long Beach. In September 1971, Roger joined the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his adoptive country, and he completed two overseas tours in Thailand alongside the Vietnamese border, and England, ultimately leaving the service in November 1975 to return to college and civilian life in Southern California. He proudly arrived home with his prized periwinkle blue Triumph sports car. Roger absolutely loved cars, and felt so fortunate to have bought and cherished one of his all-time favorite vehicles, a bright red 50th anniversary Corvette. Roger met Mary Kay on June 13, 1979, and married her - the love of his life - in his parents' beautiful Northridge back garden on May 31, 1980, surrounded by scores of rose bushes that all the Masons have grown over the years. Roger and Mary Kay spent several years in Southern California before their careers took them to Kansas, Georgia, Maryland and finally, Conway, South Carolina, which was their dream retirement destination. In addition to Mary Kay and her loving family, Roger leaves behind Nigel, sister-in-law Christi and their daughters, Kimberly Mason and Jayme Baker; Michele and her children, Heather Sermersheim, Paul Mason and Stephanie Huerta, and Christian Mason; and Jacqueline and her children, Andie Nicole Jaeger (1980-2019) and Nicholas Chavez, and her love, Jack Dixon, and many great nephews and nieces. Services will be held at St. James Catholic Church in Conway on Friday, February 21st at 9:00 a.m. In keeping with Roger and Mary Kay's great love and respect for God's planet Earth, Roger's final resting place will be a "green" interment at Ramsey Creek Preserve, in Westminster, South Carolina. Roger was a good man, and he will be greatly missed. The world is truly a better place because of Roger - he touched so many lives. Should you so choose, donations to the Veteran's Administration will be appreciated, in lieu of flowers. https://www.cdceportal.va.gov/donate_online/ Please sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Roger Hugh Derek Mason

November 16, 1950 - February 15, 2025