Eric Darnell Mason

Eric Mason filled every room he entered.  He was powerful in mind, body, and spirit with an illuminating presence.  His joyous belly laugh and infectious smile lit those he encountered from the inside out, rarely did anyone leave without their own smile to light the way.   

He went home to be with his Exceedingly Great Reward on February 4, 2021.  He fulfilled his life-long ambition to “leave the world a bit better by a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because he lived here.”

The beloved youngest of his large family in Tulsa, and the son of a golden gloves boxer, he began studying Goju-ryu at nine-years-old and attained his first of four black belts. He made a hobby of controlling every aspect of his body, pushing far past normal limits.  So assured he could fly as a young boy, he cut hundreds of paper feathers from a notebook and made wings in order to jump off the roof of his house.  Twice.

Ever the champion, he attained his black belt in Tae Kwon Do in only one year, a feat that takes mere mortals at least three.  As Master Mason, he trained over 2500 students in three studios in the Tulsa Metro and was a national coach in the Junior Olympics.  It was never enough for him to simply teach martial arts, he was determined to teach his students how to live.

As important as it was for Eric, Master Mason, or Coach Gains to prepare bodies, his passion was to share his greatest strength – his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Eric led a multitude of people to the Lord, and mentored hundreds in their walk with Jesus.  His walk and talk was close to Jesus and he regularly reminded all that “He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

A lover of words, a dictionary can barely contain all the terms and descriptors that define Eric Mason: husband, father, granddad, coach, statesman, health nut, comedian, writer, ally, protector.  He was indomitable, brilliant, powerful, gentle, kind and loving.  He was tough as nails and took time to study what it means to love, truly and unconditionally.  He spread light in dark places, and was a stronghold in time of trouble.  

Family was the most important thing in Eric’s life, and he grafted those he loved in regularly.  Eric is survived by his wife, Dorothy Mason, and children Marshall (Joseph), Kristin, Eric Jr., Connor, Elijah, Kiera, Alyssa, Zoey, Michael, Levi, Jaiden, and Gabriel; his grandchildren, Joseph (JuJu), Brenli, Trey, Scarlett, Braxton, Peyton, Cooper, Maliyah, Brylee, Ava, and Khloe.

When Eric was sharing wisdom, he regularly said, “Somebody should be writing this down.”  In his own notes from 2018, he said, "You’ll get through this.  It won’t be painless, but God will use this mess for good.  In the meantime, don’t be foolish or naïve; but don’t despair either. With God’s help, you will get through this.”