Dr. William C. Mason

Dr. William Cameron Mason, Pastor Emeritus of Tulsa's Asbury United Methodist Church, went home to be with the Lord on October 13. Bill was 93. From 1964 to 1993, Bill served the church as Senior Pastor. His love for the Lord and for people, his scriptural teaching, and his pastoral care endeared him to generations of Oklahomans and beyond. Bill always stood strong for traditional and evangelical convictions. Born June 5, 1927, in Lawton, Bill was the only son of Roland and Louise Mason who preceded Bill in death as well as his wife, Jayne Mason; sister, Marilyn Black; grandparents, the Reverend A.S. Cameron (early Methodist preacher) and Dr. Will Mason (a country doctor). At the age of 18, Bill graduated from high school and completed one year of college at Oklahoma Military Academy. After being inducted into the Army and serving in World War II with the 95th Infantry in Italy, Bill studied at the University of Oklahoma, pledged Sigma Nu, and graduated in 1950. Bill was employed by the family-owned Mike Bryan Office Supply Company as an outside salesman. In 1958, Bill married Jayne McFarland who became Bill's partner in ministry, and she brought Peggie and Robin to the marriage. Bill and Jayne had two sons, William Cameron Mason II and William Randal Mason. After hearing Billy Graham preach at an Oklahoma City revival in 1960 about the road and the narrow gate that lead to the life that only a few will find, God soon called Bill to full-time ministry. The Masons left Oklahoma City in 1961 and moved to Dallas where Bill graduated from Perkins School of Theology. In June, 1964, Bill moved his family to Tulsa when he was appointed to Asbury. Bill always credited seeking God's will and direction every morning for Asbury's growth and development as a church, and the membership grew from 118 to over 5,200 members. After Bill retired in 1993, Dr. Tom Harrison was named Senior Pastor, and in December of 1998, Tom announced that Asbury had honored Bill with the designation of Pastor Emeritus. The Masons remained active members of Asbury. Bill wrote his autobiography and hosted a book-signing celebration with his children at Asbury on February 16, 2020. On September 26, 2020, Bill had the joy of baptizing his great grandson, William Cameron Mason IV in Asbury's Mason Chapel. In addition to the Masons' four children, Peggie, Robin, Cameron, and Randy, he is survived by daughter Robin's husband, Ron Tanner, their two sons, Ryan and his wife, Rebekah, who brought son, Noah, to the marriage, and Steven; Cameron and wife, Adriane, and Cameron's son, (Will) William Cameron Mason III, his wife, Robin, and their two children, Emery and William Cameron Mason IV; son Randy and his daughter, Jennifer, her husband, Keith Anyong, and their daughter, Jemma. Bill was proud to be an Asbury Discipleship Community Teacher, an Army veteran, former Board Chairman of the Good News Board and Honorary Lifetime Member, former President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Southeast Rotary Club, member of Sigma Nu, the Governor's Committee on Ethics in Government, Alcoholism Advisory Council of the State Department Board of Mental Health, Mayor's Council on Alcoholism, board member of Oklahoma Methodist Manor, Montereau, member of the Board of Trustees of Oklahoma City University, the Red Cross Board, Board of Directors Alumni at University of Oklahoma, and Board of Tulsans for Community Values. Bill was a 33 Degree Mason, a Salvation Army bell ringer, a former Chaplain at Laureate, a George H. W. Bush Point of Light Recipient, and was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Oral Roberts University and the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters from Oklahoma City University. A Celebration of Life will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church, October 24, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. In remembrance and honor of Pastor Bill Mason, the family asks that any charitable donation consideration be made to the Bill Mason Scholarship Fund, Asbury United Methodist Church, 6767 South Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK 74133. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Dr. William C. Mason

June 5, 1927 - October 13, 2020