Gary Dean Mason

Gary was born at midnight on Aug 19 in Clarksville, TN to Margaret Turrentine Mason and Stancey Delbert Mason.

Gary grew up the elder of two boys in Clarksville and Madison, TN. He was adventurous and exceled in sports, especially his feats in basketball and football in youth, and later tennis, golf, and running the Peachtree every year. Gary was the quarterback for Clarksville High School (class of 1968), earning the nickname “Snake” for how he could weave through defensive lines.

Gary attended the University of Tennessee, majoring in Business, and returned to Clarksville to work as a stockbroker until he married Joan Quillen Mason and moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he became a boot salesman for Acme Boots.

After moving to Marietta, Georgia, he worked for Acme, Dingo, Dan Post, Durango, and Rocky boots. During his career, his territory encompassed Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida. If you bought any of these brands of boots in these states from 1980-2016, there’s a good chance Gary stocked them. He was an honest salesman who won awards for bringing in clients and being dedicated to quality service.

Gary worked as a traveling salesman on the road for over 35 years. In retirement, he would still travel to former accounts and help stock boots; one of his favorite stores to visit was Horsetown. One of Gary’s talents from so many years on the road was that he always knew the best hole-in-the-wall spot to eat in any town, and no one could put away more food yet stay trim. His favorites were good BBQ, fried catfish, turnip greens, and banana pudding.

Gary is survived by his daughter, Mary Katherine Mason; son-in-law, Nick Ramsey; grandchildren, Roman Mason Ramsey and Evie Joan Ramsey (Alpharetta, GA); ex-wife, Joan Quillen Mason (Marietta, GA); brother, Steven Mason; niece, Ciana Mason (Dover, TN); cousins, Carol Turrentine (Middlebrook, VA); Richard Turrentine (Atlanta, GA); Ross Turrentine (Alpharetta, GA); Grace Battle (Cashiers, NC); and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Grace Turrentine Woodson; grandfather, Chesley Dean Turrentine; father, Delbert; and mother, Margaret.

Gary will be remembered for his honest and generous spirit, dedication to do what’s right, and expansive knowledge of all things sport, music, and finance. No one had a better deadpan delivery or loved a dark comedy more. His favorite role in life was that of granddad to his two grandchildren, who will miss their nature walks, Saturday Night Live viewings, and big hugs with Granddad. He was a 6’2 giant in our lives who will never be forgotten.

A service will be held on Sunday, June 7, 12-2pm at Roswell Funeral Home at 950 Mansell Rd, Roswell, GA 30076 to celebrate Gary's life. He will be laid to rest at Green Lawn Cemetery & Mausoleum after the service, and a short reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in hopes that we can offer more treatments for this cruel disease.

To offer your condolences and share cherished memories, please visit www.roswellfuneralhome.com.