Obituary of Ronald Mason

Ronald (Ron) Roy Mason was born in Shelton, Washington on May 16, 1938, to C. Nolan Mason and Lucille I. (Coombs) Mason. He passed away peacefully on June 8, 2024, in Olympia, WA, with his family at his side following a short illness. He was raised on the shores of his beloved Hood Canal which laid the foundation for his passion of saltwater cruising. He attended grade school in Union, WA and graduated from Irene S. Reed High School (ISR) in Shelton, WA in 1956. He attended Oregon State University (OSU) and spent the summers working locally for the Simpson Timber Company’s engineering department. After time out for military service in the Army National Guard, he graduated from OSU with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Forest Technology. In 1961 he married Linda Christensen, a 1957 ISR High School graduate. In 1962 they made their home in Portland, Oregon and Ron started a 25-year career at Zellerbach Paper Company. In 1965 he was transferred to San Francisco as their Division Transportation Manager. In 1968 daughter Cathleen was born followed by son Michael in 1970. With a strong desire to return to the PNW he was transferred back to Portland in 1972 as the manager of the Zellerbach west coast trucking operation. The Mason family landed in Camas, WA in 1973 and Ron and Linda made many lifelong friends while raising their children in the small community. In 1985 he became the manager of Crown Zellerbach Corporation’s nationwide truck operation. Following a hostile takeover of the corporation in 1986, Ron joined with a partner, Richard Kott, and formed Atlas Columbia Transportation in Vancouver, Washington. They went on to organize Atlas Columbia Warehouse in the Port of Tacoma in 1988, now owned and operated by son Michael. They relocated to the Olympia area in 1990. During retirement, Ron and Linda traveled extensively worldwide. They spent summers on their boat Cloud Nine in west coast waters from Olympia to Alaska. In later years they purchased a motor coach and explored North America from Alaska to Mexico. Winters were spent in Arizona where Ron enjoyed riding his motorcycle with resort friends. Ron always maintained a major interest from youth through adult life owning and maintaining classic cars, a tradition now carried on by his son and grandson. He leaves behind his loving wife, and life partner, Linda of 63 years. His children, daughter Cathleen (Dave) Coleman of Silverdale, Washington and son Michael (Lea) Mason of Olympia, Washington, five grandchildren, Allison Janusch, Zachary Coleman, and Grace Coleman and Elise Mason and Nolan Mason and two great-grandchildren, Noah and Ezra Janusch. A burial service will be held for family at a later date at Shelton Memorial Cemetery.