Retired professional photographer and businessman, Charles (Bud) Frederick Mason, Sr., age 82 of Murfreesboro, TN, passed away on April 23, 2022. He was born in Queens, NY, to the late Charles Rood Mason and Nadine Gertrude Leggett Mason.
Mr. Mason was raised in Bristol, TN, and played quarterback for Bristol High School in the late 1950s. He served his country in the Army and National Guard and was a graduate of East Tennessee State University. He worked for Holland America Cruise Lines in the early 1960s as a sports director, where he met his wife, Jean Calderwood Mason, and was married for 57 years. Mr. Mason moved his family to St. Charles, MO, in 1969 where he later operated several successful photography businesses in the St. Louis area for more than 35 years. Mr. Mason helped those in the St. Louis area capture memories through the 1970s – 1990s with many photographed in youth sports, school pictures, senior portraits and wedding portraits. Because of his love of sailing, he and Jean retired to Friendship, ME, for nearly a decade before relocating to Murfreesboro to live closer to their family.
Mr. Mason is survived by his wife, Jean Calderwood Mason; his brother Retired Colonel William Leggett Mason and wife Norma Jean; children, Kimberly Nadine Mason McCollom and husband Don, and Charles Frederick Mason, Jr., and wife Jerri; grandchildren Jason Jay Mason and wife Mai, Connor Charles McCollom, Meghan Christine McCollom and Sydni Lynn Mason.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in East Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org.
