Clyde Vaughan Mason

Clyde Vaughan Mason born in Enid, Oklahoma on August 29, 1917. He died on March 6, 2015 at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue. Clyde married his beloved wife, the late Ruth Ella Anderson, in 1942 and moved from California to Bellevue in 1950. Ruth and Clyde had four children the late C. Vaughan Mason, the late James A Mason and is survived by two daughters Dianne R Copper and Deborah M Thorlakson. Clyde is survived by 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and the late Mason Ritton.

Always interested in fashion, Clyde and Ruth opened Casual-Aire, a fine women’s clothing store, in 1954. Over the next 40 years, Casual-Aire expanded to four stores in the Seattle area and became an icon of quality women’s fashion in the area. Clyde was an active Bellevue business community leader for over 40 years.

An avid golfer, Clyde was a longtime member of Overlake G & C. At the age 95 he participated in his 36th Washington State Senior Golf Association Tournament and placed first in his age category with a low net of 72 for each day of the competition. Fishing was another favorite pastime, that same year he flew with his grandsons Zachary and Dylan to Ketchikan, Alaska for his annual salmon fishing trip, still catching the big ones. Clyde was an active champion table pool player and also enjoyed game bird and deer hunting in the fall with his sons Vaughan and Jim. Ruth and Clyde attended the First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue and Redmond for many years

Clyde was a retired B-17 pilot in the US Air Force. He was shot down over Germany in WWII and spent 16 months in a P.O.W. camp. Waiting for his return to California were his wife Ruth and young son Vaughan, his determination to survive was his saving grace and a personality trait that followed him throughout his life. He was a tenacious man and a fine leader.

Private Military Services will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery and an informal reception will be held at Emerald Heights Retirement Community in Redmond at 3:00pm on Friday March 27, 2015, all are welcome to join us in a celebration of this great man’s life. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Red Cross.