Beloved son of Percy and Ludia Backus; beloved brother to Henry, Louise, Wayne, Kerby and Thomas; beloved husband of Nelda; beloved father of Keli, Carla and Joel; beloved grandfather to Paige, Nelda, Jeffrey, Brazos, Stormi and Mason; beloved great-grandfather to Jackson; beloved friend, beloved confidante, beloved partner and beloved man.
Many people pass through this life without much ado, a codicil on life. This cannot be said about Mason Backus. Mason lived each day as a godly man, a loving man, a patient man and as a man who believed the best about every person that crossed his path. He had a boundless capacity for unconditional love.
Born on March 1, 1938, to parents Percy and Ludia Backus, Mason was raised with four rowdy brothers, Henry, Wayne, Kerby and Thomas Backus, and a sweet sister, Louise Foote. Their family was boisterous, loving and filled with joy.
He continued that trend by marrying the great love of his life, Nelda June Campbell, on Oct. 20, 1956. The one constant anchor in his life was his love for his bride of 55 years. Mason and Nelda served as a beautiful example of what love should be; living a life filled with laughter, love and family.
Mason always put God and his family before everything else in his life. He was the proud father of Keli, Carla and Joel. His love and guidance gave them the ability to face the world with confidence and a belief in God. They always knew that their dad believed in them unconditionally and loved them in the same way.
Also known as Grandpa, Pawpaw and Great Pawpaw Mason, he is survived by grandchildren and a great-grandson that adore him. Paige, Nelda, Stormi, Brazos, Mason and Jackson have all known the joy of spending time with their granddad playing games, fishing, hunting and enjoying life. He was an excellent role model to them and taught them the value of a good laugh.
Mason leaves behind a huge number of well-loved friends. He cherished those relationships and walked through the changes in life with them, sharing their laughter, joys and accomplishments and commiserating with them in times of sorrow. Mason was dearly loved and will be sorely missed by them all.
One of his greatest delights was his weekly lunch with the "lunch group." He told many stories about all of these men and the jokes they had played on each other over the years. Mason also made many special friends while he was a member of the Texas Society of CPA's. This group enriched his and Nelda's lives immensely. Mason's strongest relationships over the years included beloved friends in his church family. He counted on them for spiritual sustenance and loved his years of service to them!
All those diverse groups were counted on as his trusted inner circle and each was well loved and thoroughly enjoyed!
Mason graduated from East Texas State University in 1960 and has since been teased unmercifully about becoming an Aggie by default!
He was a founder and partner in the accounting firm Armstrong, Backus and Company where he actively practiced until his recent retirement and continued to serve as a consultant to the firm. His public service record was impressive and he served as president of the YMCA of San Angelo, West Angelo Kiwanis Cub, San Angelo Chapter of TSCPA, Pastoral Care and Counseling Center, Medina Children's Home and the Texas Society of CPA's.
He achieved the TSCPA's highest honor, the TSCPA Meritorious Service to the Public Accounting Profession. He served at a national level as a member of the governing council of the AICPA and on the Joint Trial Board.
We could spend time talking about all his professional accomplishments, his awards, his years of service as an accountant, his time spent on various boards and committees in the community, his humble acknowledgment of recognition or his work with various charitable organizations but that would not be how he defined himself. Mason would always want himself to be defined as a man of God. His proudest accomplishment was serving as the treasurer for the San Angelo Christian Academy and in his ability to do anything he could for his church home. He offered counsel to anyone that needed it and gently reminded them to use the scripture for guidance. Mason always said that the Bible had never steered him in the wrong direction.
Mason left for his heavenly home on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, and was preceded in death by his parents, Percy and Lidia; brothers Henry and Thomas; granddaughter Paige Corbell; and son-in-law Bige Atkinson. They are all gladly welcoming him home as we shed tears at his departure from ours.
Mason would tell you not to shed any tears for him; his ultimate home was always going to be heaven and he is waiting to greet you there. He looked forward to this final adventure and his reunion with all those he loves.
Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Southgate Church of Christ, 512 Country Club Road, San Angelo, TX.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to San Angelo Christian Academy, 518 Country Club Road, San Angelo, Texas 76904; or to your favorite charity.
Arrangements under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home, San Angelo, TX.
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