Merrill M. Mason was born to Thomas (Jim) and Veda (Ramsey) Mason on January 31, 1938. It has always been known that his dad wanted a girl so badly that he refused to tell anyone for three days that they had given birth to a boy. Needless to say, Merrill had the spoiled rotten baby syndrome, as he was the youngest of 4 boys, by 21, 19, and 13 years.
The family farm and ranch began in 1926 when Jim and Veda moved from Wray, Colorado, to Cope, Colorado. The farm/ranch will celebrate its centennial year in 2026.
Merrill attended Cope school from 1st grade through his senior year. He deeply loved sports and played football, basketball, and baseball for the Cope Bears. He hurt his knee while playing football in high school and had knee surgery.
Merrill graduated high school in 1956 and attended Pueblo Junior College for a degree in Building Construction, graduating in May 1960. During this time, he began to court Georgia Mae Ernst and proposed to her after she graduated from Cope in 1959. He married the love of his life on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1960. To this union, two sons were born: Randy Lee on March 21, 1963, and Rodney James on August 18, 1966.
Merrill worked for a construction company to build cabinets and a Dormitory for Denver University, while Georgia received her degree in Radiology at the Presbyterian Hospital. Merrill returned home during the summers to help his parents on the farm/ranch. Once, Georgia took off work to help with wheat harvest, and it rained the entire week. They played card games of pitch because they couldn’t get in the fields.
After Georgia graduated, they returned to Cope to work on the farm/ranch full-time. Merrill and Georgia put a trailer house on their parents’ farm. Georgia began working as a clerk at the Cope Post Office and became the Cope Post Master. She eventually retired and continued working alongside Merrill on the farm.
Merrill devoted himself to serving on several boards. He served on the fire board for 22 years and the Arickaree School board for 12 years. He also served on the Cope cemetery board for over 30 years and on the board at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Anton for several years.
Everyone who knew Merrill recognized him as a patient, quiet, and kind man of few words. However, his entire personality would come alive during games. On two occasions at high school sporting events, he received a technical foul and nearly got kicked out for yelling at the referees. His family held great respect for him, knowing that when he spoke, they needed to pay attention.
After 64 years of marriage, Merrill and Georgia have been the backbone of our family, setting the standard for hard work, determination, and putting God first in our lives.
Merrill is preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Veda Mason; brothers Harold, Bill, and Bob; and their wives.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Georgia Mason; their son, Randy and wife Dena Mason, and grandchildren, Shayna Mason (Connor Buchanan), Jared, and Maranda Mason; son, Rodney and wife Bridgett Mason, and grandchildren, Andrew (Lauren) Minor, Tailynn Mason, Logan (Erin) Minor, Evan (Lydia) Minor, Montana Mason (Natalie Hernandez), and Juliana Mason; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The service will be held at the Cope Community Church on May 2 at 10:00 a.m., officiated by grandson Evan Minor. The funeral will be streamed at https://www.bowinfuneralhome.com/obituary/merrill-mason. A graveside service will follow at the Cope Cemetery, with a lunch provided by the Cope Community Church and the community at Grassroots in Joes, Colorado. Memorial donations may be made to the Cope Community Church, Eastern Plains Bible Fellowship, or to the Cope Fire Department.