Gordon Keith Masson

Loving husband and extraordinary father, Gordon Keith Masson died January 18 due to adverse side effects of a prescription medication. Gordon was born in Berkeley, California, September 7, 1957. His family moved to Chester, CA, where he began life living at their home on the family owned Chester Airport which was later named Rogers Field in memory of Gordon’s grandfather, Harold Rogers. Gordon graduated from Chester High in 1975. He served in the US Army from 1975 to 1978 in Baumholder, Germany, in the armor division and in Garmisch/Berchtesgaden as a member of the US Army ski team. After an overseas honorable discharge he traveled extensively throughout Europe by bike, thumb and VW van. Always seeking adventure, he climbed the active volcano Mt Etna in Sicily, ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and hiked the Samaria Gorge in Crete. In 1979 he met the love of his life, Sheila, at COS and they were married that year in Yreka and then moved to Chico to attend CSUC where he majored in Geology. In 1982 he celebrated the blessed birth of his first son Dustin Masson, and then in 1983 his heart’s desire was fulfilled with the birth of his second son, Kaegan Masson. In 1984 he became a traffic officer with the California Highway Patrol until his retirement in 2009. From 1983 to 1991 he was assigned to CHP offices in the SF Bay Area until he was able to transfer to the area he loved, Siskiyou County. During his career with the CHP he enjoyed representing his area offices in annual ski races, softball teams, and firearms competition. He received an award for his dedicated service and outstanding contributions in the field of narcotics enforcement for his service with SCINTF (Siskiyou County Inter-Agency Narcotics Task Force) for 1999-2003, and superior performance in the enforcement of DUI laws from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) in 1995. He was an avid fly fisherman, enjoyed cycling, traveling, hiking, boating, camping, and gardening. He enjoyed just about any recreational sport, activity, and job that included the outdoors or spending time with family. While attending college he had worked seasonally for various logging companies. He coached and refereed youth soccer, high school ski team, and loved to entertain large groups at home with games of volleyball, horse shoes, or foosball. He also supported his wife’s love of horses and all her endeavors. He was a devoted, caring, and loving husband and father. He loved his friends and family deeply, and above all the Lord Jesus for whom he was thankful for all good things in his life and for the opportunities to help others. Gordon paved the way and opened doors for his two loving sons, and taught them more about life than they could ever ask. They hold him up so high, and are so thankful for the constant love they received from him. His three grandsons were the apples of his eye and brought him more joy than he ever imagined possible. Since retirement his favorite days of the week were what he called “Twin Tuesdays” or “Wild Wednesdays” when the grandsons came home from school and stayed until bedtime and he spent the entire time reading, crafting science projects, exploring world maps and globes and creating the dinner menu the boys picked each week. His favorite times were with his sons, grandchildren, wife, extended family, and many of the young adults he considered part of his family. He received great joy from seeing the numerous people he knew as children grow to be fine young men and women. He felt this was a great privilege granted by living in a close knit community where everyone could make a difference. He touched so many people’s lives, with the brightest smile that never wavered, and laughter that could pull you out of your darkest days. He had a keen sense of humor and loved practical jokes. Words cannot explain how much he will be missed by all, and we will carry the memory of him in our hearts forever and share the wonderful gifts in this life that he has taught us to embrace from this day forward until we meet again for eternity. Gordon is survived by his wife, Sheila, oldest son Dustin, and wife Kaci, grandsons, Brenden, Aiden and Liam, and youngest son Kaegan. He is also survived by his mother, Beverly Masson, sister Rebecca Masson-Weatherson and husband Tom, sister Laura Wass, brother Don Anderson, sister-/brother-in law Lisa & Claude Lavoie, brother-/sister-in-law Kin & Dawn Bates, brother-in-law Troy Bates and numerous nieces and nephews that were dear to his heart. Gordon was preceded in death by his loving father, John Harbison Masson. A memorial service for Gordon will be held Saturday, January 31, 2015, at 2 pm at the Church of the Nazarene, 415 Evergreen Lane, Yreka, CA. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Stable Hands for the benefit of Horses for Heroes, P O Box 1852, Yreka, CA 96097.

Gordon Keith Masson

September 7, 1957 - January 18, 2015