Mason ~ A Missionary

Memory by Polly

I think of Mason a lot, wondering what he is doing. I can feel when Mason is close by me because I get the same type of feeling each time. There are times that I realize that I have not felt those feelings for awhile and I wonder if I have strayed from the spirit. I have learned that the Lord teaches us in a way that is familiar to us. Like he did when he was on the earth teaching. He would teach in parables using words and things that the people were familiar with so they could understand what he was talking about.

Several months ago, I was thinking about Mason and realized I hadn’t felt him close by for awhile. Was I straying or was Mason busy? Well the Lord gave me an answer. He taught me with something that was familiar to me.

When I was in the Philippines with Mason just before He came off his mission, we were at the Mission Home in San Pablo . It was transfer day and all the missionaries were there. What an awesome feeling it was that day being amongst hundreds of Missionaries. We were all in this big room in the chapel/all purpose room on the Mission Home grounds. Mason was up on the stand sitting with the rest of his “Batch” that were going home. They were all smiling, talking, so excited to be there together. You could see it in their faces. They were beaming with excitement. During the meeting they all stood and sang “Called to Serve,” singing with much enthusiasm. Mason and each Missionary that was leaving to go home bore their Testimony of the Savior. Mason was happy, serving with other missionaries, Testifying of the Savior.

That day several months ago that I was wondering, this vision came so clear in my mind that I knew what Mason was doing and that he is happy. He is serving and teaching the gospel with other Missionaries, testifying the truth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

2000 Stripling Warriors

Mason, JC and Kevin (and I think maybe Aunt Polly?? I am not sure...I was too into my teenage life to remember anyone other than the guys) came up to our house in Taylor for the 24th of July celebration. It was in the year 2000 because that was when Pres. Hinckley was supposed to be in Snowflake to dedicate the newly constructed pioneer monument. Pres. Hinckley got sick at the last minute and Pres. Faust ended up coming in his place, which was still cool. For the parade they had all of the young men dressed in their Sunday best march in front or just behind Pres. Faust as the "2000 Stripling Warriors". I didn't quite know the extent of Mason's "warrior habits" until learning about them at his funeral, sadly enough, so this picture has come to mean more to me now given the circumstances.

I have other "clips" of Mason from that weekend. Something was said about how neat and evenly spaced the hangers were in my closet. I laughed when I saw it after they left that Mason had pushed all the hangers in my closet to the side, splitting the middle wide open to hang up their Sunday clothes or something. He was a big tease to me!

Both of these memories of Mason make me think about the apostle Peter. He was an all or nothing kind of guy too just like Mason seemed to me sometimes. When Peter couldn't sit right next to our Savior at the last supper he didn't take second place, no, he walked clear around to the end and sat "in last place". Peter is my favorite of the original 12. I think of Mason when I hear stories of Peter.

Death unfortunately has become a real thing in my life these past few years as several loved ones have passed on. Before I had only attended old folks funerals where "it was their time". Man, it sure is different when it is your spiritual spit fire cousin full of life or your still young caring father-in-law. The pain wraps around your neck like a rainforest python and cuts off your circulation. It is so real. You spend the following months living in flashback video clips in your mind and fear of forgetting them. Years later, although the flashbacks come fewer and farther between, they are still there.

Thanks for putting together this site guys. It helps to preserve the flashbacks and to play them for others.

Zonnie (Lee) River- cousin of Mason's

Charlotte Hornets

I always think of Mason when I think of the Charlotte Hornets. I picture his bedspread in that first bedroom in Aunt Polly's Mesquite house. It may have been a poster on the wall to or something too. I know he was really into basket ball at about the same time I was. I airbrushed a portrait of Michael Jordan in high school. He was by far my favorite basketball player back then!!! "MJ All the Way" is what I named my painting.



I gave the painting to Mason when he, JC and Kevin were up at our house in Taylor during the 24th of July celebration. I have this little clip in my head of Mason and I talking about my painting. I was flattered that he liked it so much. He was such a cool guy in my eyes that I gave the painting to him. He asked me if I was serious and I said sure. Part of me was, and part of me wasn't. I knew he would take care of it because he totally loved it but I couldn't believe that I had just let my Michael Jordan go!! Seeing his honest excitement made it worth it for me and I had no regrets. I can still picture Mason and JC getting back into the car trying to figure out how to get the painting in there. When Mason went on his mission he gave the painting back to me. It hung in Shay & I's apartment in Chandler for a few years. Purple and Michael Jordan was a Shay Schriver combo for sure so she even agreed to let me hang it in the living room! We were both recovering from crazy Michael Jordan addictions. I have thought about selling the painting several times on Craigslist or Ebay but I just can't bring myself to do it. It is my personal connection to Mason in a way so I can't seem to get rid of it. Well, right now it is covered with a plastic garbage bag sitting in my daughters closet...if any of you would like a turn with it let me know and I will get it to you. Someday I will want it back when I have a game room or something in a house but it sure could use a better home for the next few years if anyone is interested. Just let me know and it is yours for a while! (This is a bad picture of the painting & me back around that time in 2000.)

Zonnie (Lee) River - Cousin of Mason's

Healing Time

Its now been a few years since Mason's death. I wondered then, when will the time come that I will feel healed and mourn no more. I believe the Atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ and the Eternal Plan of my Father in Heaven has given me the stability and knowledge of where Mason is and what he is doing. It is miraculous to contemplate the work he is doing. I believe the Lord makes up the difference in our lives when we have done all we can do. The Plan of Salvation brings hope to my heart and heals my soul. I am excited for what is beyond this life. I am excited, when the day comes, to return. The Savior has made all of this possible. I understand that when I believe Him and not just believe in Him, that my troubles and sorrows will be swept away. I miss my brother, but look forward to our reuniting.

Until then...

Toyota Camry

Memory by Matt

So, back when I was just graduated from Highschool, Mason and I were riding in Mom's Camry. We were driving behind a Fry's Grocery store and I decided to let Mason try driving. Well, he got in the drivers seat and off we went. Mason started picking up speed...probably 40 mph. Thats pretty fast behind the building. Its not like it is a long straight flat road or something. Well, I could see in front of us that the asphalt area had a huge dip. Like a 4 foot drop within a steep slope. Before I could tell Mason to slow down, we went airborne. We probably "...got like 3 foot of air! (For all you Napolean Dynamite fans, thats was quote from the movie). Maybe not, but all I remember was coming down so hard that I thought the front shocks were going to shoot up through the engine hood. We both started bustin up laughing. Needless to say we abruptly stopped and I took over. Fortunately, the car wasn't damaged, but we swore to not say a word. I think he told mom since then, but not for a while. The good times!

Later Bro!

Brothers' Keeper

I have always felt some kind of special connection with Mason. I reflect back to a time when Mason and I shared a set of bunk beds in our room. Mason slept on the bottom bed and I was on the top bed. Some nights Mason would wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare. He would climb up on the top bunk and wake me up to ask if he could sleep next to me. I was never annoyed of his request, in fact I felt honored to protect him and help him fall back a sleep. There have been other times in our younger growing up years that I felt a need to watch out for him. I feel I am my brothers' keeper. I feel the same way with my other brothers and sister. I will do all I can to protect and keep them.

I love my family.

Pizza Pizza

For Thanksgiving Krystal and Grandma Polly came to visit and enjoy the holiday with us here in New Mexico. We had a great time, a ton of food, and lots of naps...well, atleast I know I did. :) Anyways, while they were here, we wanted pizza one night. So, we ordered Dominos and of course it was way too much. Alice shared an experience that she and I had with Mason and Mandy just days before Mason's accident. Mandy had come over to cut Alice's hair and we were all feeling a bit famished. So, we decided to order some Dominos Pizza. They had a special of buy 5 medium pizzas and get them for $5.00 each. So, I did just that. Alice didn't know I had ordered so many until Mason and I returned home with all 5 of them. I didn't realize that there was alot of pizza until we started stuffing our faces. But, I was confident we wouldn't have an excess...Mason was there. I don't know where that kid could put it, but I think we polished off all of the pizzas. Maybe there were a few slices left, but by in large, we ate all of them.

That was the last time I was actually with Mason. That memory will always remain and everytime I eat Dominos Pizza, I will eat a few extra for my bro.