Robert Lee Mason Jr.

Robert “Robby” Lee Mason Jr., "Bob" AKA "Bonfire Bob" "Bogey Bob", "WaveMaker Bob", "Texas Bob", and "Big Bad Bob" as he was known to many of us, passed away in Austin, Texas, unexpectedly, on October 27, 2022. He was 72 years old.

He was born on January 16, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois, to Robert L Mason Sr. and June Elizabeth Reynolds/Mason. At the age of 8 months his family moved back to their home state of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Bob attended college in Frostburg, MD where he played college football and earned a degree in Psychology.

Just one day before receiving his draft notice, Bob enlisted in the Air Force. He ended up serving in Vietnam anyway, but it was a much better job than the one the Army would have offered. Even then, his business expertise led him to be the primary wheeler and dealer in running the barracks bar, on base in Da Nang, Thailand! It was a skill that he continued to develop from that time forward!

He met the love of his life Tina Brisco and married her on November 11, 1978, in Ft. Worth, Texas....which earned him honorary status as a true Texan, At the time of his passing they would have been married almost 44 years. He built a wonderful life for his wife and family full of fond memories and great adventures. Unfortunately, Tina thought she was marrying Burt Reynolds at the time. In the early days Bob's looks and his smart remarks were definitely much like Burt!

Bob is remembered as an astute businessman working mainly in the manufactured housing industry. He was the mover and shaker who started the program with Fannie Mae to blend manufactured homes with land as a financed package. He was the owner of The Home Source for 20 years in Bastrop, Texas and had recently retired. He knew how to relate to the people he sold to and to his employees. He met them with that ever-present smile and a twinkle in his eye.

Bob's hobbies were snorkeling, driving his boat really fast, and Nascar racing in his early days. In later years he became an avid golfer and was well known for his skill with the BBQ grill. He loved the good music ...old time Rock n Roll. And snacks.... he loved nighttime snacks, and popcorn or chips were pretty much a requirement for a pleasant evening. The past few years, Bob had managed to create a mountaintop "man cave" on Blue Knob 4 Season's Resort in Claysburg, Pa. There he managed to escape the hot Texas summers and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. It was a little bit of Heaven on earth.

But first and foremost, Bob loved his family. Bob's family was his primary focus. He taught his children through his boundless, and usually anonymous, generosity and work ethic. Whenever there was a problem, he was always able to see the entire picture and find a solution. He was a man you could always count on. He will be sorely missed by his family and by his many, many friends.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Tina and three children - daughter Nikka L Myers & husband Sam and their son Kaj, age 12; Son, R Trae Mason & wife Jennifer and their daughter Xya, aged 7 months; and Son, Jacob L. Mason and his two sons, F. Gabriel Alejandre, age 19 and son Jackson L. Mason, age 5. He is also survived by his sister Rev. Rebecca "Becky" Collins and her husband Rev. Dave Collins and their children Gabe Collins (deceased) and his children Elizabeth and Ella; Danny Collins (deceased) and his wife Holly Collins and their daughters Haley, Hannah and Halayna; and daughter Rachael McCart & husband Ryan and their children Conner and Cayley. And last but not least, Bob's 4-legged son, Ricky Bobby!

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held Saturday, November 5th from 1-5 P.M. at The Cedar Bend event venue located at 138 Hunters Chase Rd., Cedar Creek, TX 78612

Food and Refreshments will be served. Please come and share any and all stories, memories, or tall tales.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation to the charity of your choice. Bob's philosophy was "see a need, fill a need".