Thomas Parker Mason

Parker attended River Oaks Baptist School in Houston from preschool through eighth grade with the exception of two years at Trinity Episcopal School in Austin. He then attended Episcopal High School in Houston. Throughout school, he excelled at a number of sports including baseball, lacrosse, and football. While in Austin, he led his Western Hills Little League team to the Austin city championship.

At Episcopal High School, he played on the football team that won the Southwest Preparatory Conference and on the lacrosse team that reached the state semifinals. Parker was recognized as an all-state lacrosse player and an all-SPC football player. He then attended the University of Texas from which he graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in government. While at UT, he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and cherished the many friends and memories he made through that association, including being asked to be the “jungle master” his senior year.

After graduation, Parker went to his church home, St John the Divine and worked with the youth group and the young professionals. There he met a friend who was involved in an after-school squash program at Hogg Middle School. Parker then learned to play squash and became a volunteer in the program, where he also served as a tutor to the students. He was so loved and appreciated there that the principal asked him to get the necessary credentials to become a teacher. Parker taught social studies at Hogg for five years as well as coaching squash and basketball. He was voted “Favorite Teacher” by his students in his last year there.

During two of his summers while teaching at Hogg, Parker attended Theology Summer School at Wycliffe Hall at the University of Oxford. Attending this program no doubt helped guide his later decision to go into full-time ministry.

Parker had the beautiful gift of possessing great depth, vulnerability and sensitivity. Thinking of others came very naturally to him and he would never shy away from a meaningful conversation. He was often supporting someone through a hard time or encouraging someone in their faith. In these conversations, he spoke softly with gentleness, care and passion that showed how much he genuinely wanted to be there. Along with his depth and kindness, Parker had a natural ability to bring fun and laughter everywhere he went. It is not hyperbole to say that no one could make people laugh more than Parker Mason. His creativity was widely appreciated too. Both were evident in his homemade video skits, photo shops and stories.

Parker’s faith wasn’t simply a part of his life; it was his life’s foundation. That vibrant faith led him to begin his studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Houston. His studies were interrupted by a significant stroke that left him in critical condition for many days. Following his recovery from the stroke, he returned with an enthusiastic determination to his studies at DTS which he continued until his death. While he never officially began his career in ministry, he had been ministering to others for years out of true love for them and the Lord. Perhaps Parker’s greatest legacy is the fact that he viewed every person with a compassion that reflected God’s own heart. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all those whose lives he touched.

Parker is survived by his mother, Holly Harris Mason; his father, Thomas Patrick Mason; and his sister, Caroline Grace Mason. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles, Virgil Harris III, Victor and Julie Harris, Richard and Diane Mason, Daniel and Toni Mason, John Mason, and Mary Mason Bolser. Additionally, he is survived by cousins, Virgil Harris IV, Sally Falwell (Craig), Jenny Crandall (Jon), Dan Harris (Jenny), Katie Patterson (Brian), Victor Harris Jr. (Jenn), David Mason (Victoria), Becky Bolte (Eric), Courtney Starr (Thomas), Drew Mason, Sara Vardaxis, Derek Bolser, and Mason Bolser. He is also survived by his stepmother, Elizabeth Mason; and step-siblings, Porter Collett, Elizabeth Collett, and Margaret Collett.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 22nd of April, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A celebration of life service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 23rd of April, at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston.

Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in nearby Sumners Hall.

The family will gather for a private inurnment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances the family requests with gratitude the donations be made in Parker’s memory to the Dallas Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 734215, Dallas, TX 75373, or to the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, c/o Houston Methodist Foundation, P.O. Box 4384, Houston, TX 77210- 4384.

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