Bill Mason

Mr. Billy Joe Mason, 79, of Statesville, passed away Friday, September 23, 2011 at Gordon Hospice House after a long a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Mason was born May 22, 1932 in Alexander County and was the son of the late William McKinley Mason and Ollie Duncan Mason. He was a graduate of Central School and on June 11, 1960, he married Virginia Lambert Mason, who preceded him in death on February 2, 2006. Mr. Mason was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Mr. Mason was retired from the City of Statesville after 22 years of service where he worked in the electrical department and was a mechanic on the town clock which is located on the town square. Mr. Mason was one of the original founding members of Central School Volunteer Fire Department in 1961 and prior to his death; he was a Lieutenant with the fire department. Along with his parents and wife, Mr. Mason was also preceded in death by three brothers, James Mason, Johnny Mason and Wade Mason along with four sisters, Katy M. Meadows, Olean M. Tolbert, Mary Ethel Mason and Ruby Mason Patterson. Mr. Mason is survived by one daughter, Barbara M. Van (Jack) of Statesville; one son, Ronald Lambert (Tonya) of Mooresville; four grandsons, Zane Lambert of Cleveland, N.C., Brandon Lambert of Mooresville, Ryan Van of Asheville and Jared Sibert of Mooresville along with one great-granddaughter, Annabelle Lee McKeon of Mooresville. He is further survived by a special nephew, Fred Mason (Julie) of Statesville along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services for Mr. Mason will be conducted 4:00 pm Monday at Rocky Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Henry Cook officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will visit with friends from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Nicholson Funeral Home. Active pallbearers will be Brandon Lambert, Ryan Van, Nick Hinson, Eugene Conner, Eddie Summers and Norman Shook. Honorary pallbearers will be the Central School Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Central Volunteer Fire Dept., 4634 Wilkesboro Hwy, Statesville, NC 28625, or to Rocky Hill Baptist Church, 823 Mountain View Road, Statesville, NC 28625, Special Olympics of Iredell County, P.O. Box 1111, Statesville, N.C. 28687, Purple Heart Homes, 1551 Salisbury Hwy, Suite C & D, Statesville, NC 28625, Friends of Fort Dobbs, P.O. Box 241, Statesville, NC 28687 and Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, N.C. 28625. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Dr. Pam Sholar and her staff as well as the staff at Iredell Memorial Hospital 2 North and 4 North. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries . Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.