Donavon Dexter Mason, age 82, of Storm Lake, formerly of Early, died at Trinity Regional Medical Center, in Fort Dodge, on February 14, 2006, following a brief illness.

Funeral services for Donavon will be held on Friday, Feb. 17th, 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Early. Burial will be at the Early Union Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Farber & Otteman Funeral home in Sac City on Thursday, February 16th.

Donavon was born August 22, 1923, in Early, the son of Ellsworth and Elsie (Smith) Mason. He was a baptized, church member of the Early Methodist Church. He graduated from Early High School in 1941 and the National School of Aeronautics in Kansas City, Missouri.

He was employed by the Glen L. Martin company, working on the B26 Marauder airplane. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy July 27, 1944 and served at Glenview Illinois Naval Air Station. He was honorably discharged June 27, 1946.

On November 3, 1946, he married Lois Anne Christensen at the Royal Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Donavon and Lois were the proud parents of three children: Nancy, Jon (Jack), Sue, and a German exchange student Rainer Loll.

He farmed southwest of Early since the age of 11 and was awarded the Century Farm designation in 1974. He shared his life on the farm with his wife of 59 ½ years. He was a Pioneer Hi-Bred International Seed Corn salesman for over 30 years. Donavon was a church lay leader, served on many church committees, was a 4-H and Boy Scout leader, belonged to the American Legion, the Sac County Beef Producers, and served as chairman of reorganization for Crestland School. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing, camping in National Parks in the United States, and traveling to other countries. For the last fourteen years, he and Lois resided during the winter months in Palm Desert, CA. Donavon loved life, his family, and his many friends.

He is survived by his wife, Lois of Storm Lake, IA; daughter, Nancy and husband Dr. Michael Davis of Carroll, IA; son Dr. Jon and wife Dr. Cherral Mason of Norfolk, VA; and daughter, Sue Ann and husband Craig Malloy of Humboldt, IA. Other survivors include grandchildren: Monica Davis of Norwalk, CT, Megan Davis of Iowa City, Emily (Mason) and Peter Johnson of Norfolk, VA, Jonathan Mason and finance Michelle Crouse of Norfolk, VA, Jason and Alison Stead of Mesa, AZ, and Scott Stead of Humboldt, IA. Other survivors include Harold and Barbara Christensen and Amos and Virginia Christensen of Spencer, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

His parents and brother Darwyn Mason preceded Donavon in death.