Wynona Mason

(From Stumpff Funeral Home)

Sula “Wynona” Mason (McCandless) “Nonie” was born on February 11, 1941, in Cassville, Missouri. She was raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where her mother Georgia was one of the first women to graduate from the University of Arkansas, earning her master’s degree, just a thesis shy of her doctorate. Wynona’s grandmother and older sister played a major role in helping to raise her. She remained very close with her siblings, Dianna and Leonard, throughout her life. 

Wynona graduated from high school in the Class of 1959. She won second place in the state driving competition when she was 16, placing second only because she did not have experience driving semi-trucks. She played the clarinet in the band and was a drum majorette. She would still show off her baton-twirling skills up until her 84th year. Somehow that muscle memory returned despite Parkinson’s disease.

When Lee and Wynona married, Lee’s mother made the wedding cake, her sister sewed Wynona’s dress, and they were married at their parents’ home. They began their life together with modest means, and they often chuckled when they told the story about how the preacher returned their ceremony donation, thinking they needed it more. On their honeymoon, Lee changed the fourth flat tire of the week by the side of the road, in the pouring rain, while still dressed in his wedding suit.

Wynona was a natural draftsman and the only girl in her high school drafting class. After graduating, she was accepted into the architectural program at the University of Arkansas by Fay Jones, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. She married Lee at the age of 19 on December 23, 1960. Wynona instead went to work for John Mahaffey & Associates, contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She surveyed, collected deeds, and drew all the original maps of Beaver Lake, meticulously rendering them in ink on linen to help her husband earn his business degree from the University of Arkansas.

They later moved to North Carolina, where Lee was stationed at Fort Bragg, narrowly missing the Cuban Missile Crisis. Their son, Robert, was born there in 1962. After Lee’s military service, the family moved to Joplin, Missouri, where Lee began a successful five-decade career with Sears. Their daughter, Leigh Ann, was born in 1965.

Often described as a visionary, Wynona was passionate and imaginative. When she was a little girl, her mother would say, “You know Nonie and her big ideas!” She was fun-loving and made her own excitement, fueled by big ideas and big dreams, collecting many lasting and loyal friendships along the path of her life. Always ahead of her time, she thought outside the box and was generous with both her time and resources.

Wynona was a devoted wife and mother, supporting her husband through his career during their ten moves. She stayed home with her children and served as room mother, Cub Scout leader, and field trip chaperone, encouraging her children in band, baseball, art, and countless other activities. She loved music so much it would move her to tears. She would often put on a record and dance with her children. She delighted in hosting parties at her home and cooked amazing dishes from scratch. Organized and a perfectionist, she created a combination of beauty and functionality with everything she did. For a period, Wynona modeled and was compensated with designer attire. She enjoyed fashion and stood out in a crowd. When she volunteered at the grade school, her daughter said, “Suddenly everyone wanted to be my friend.” She poured extraordinary energy and detail into everything she did, making holidays and birthdays magical, especially with the most imaginative cakes. She sewed their Halloween costumes, often winning first prize. “After school, we raced home, excited to see what she had made, opening the door to the smell of peanut butter cookies or homemade Play-Doh.”

She was sharp, with a quick wit that could make her husband burst out laughing at the most unexpected moments. She was always thinking of ways to make our lives happy and rich in love.

Wynona was highly ambitious and creative, working in oil painting, watercolor, stained glass, hanging wallpaper, reupholstering furniture, restoring antiques, and one Christmas creating six exquisite ceramic nativity sets, one for each family member. These are now among their most treasured possessions. She also loved dogs and showed English Setters for years.

Wynona’s faith was woven into everyday life, with how she loved, worked, and deeply cared for others. She was magnetic, with countless friends who often spoke of the profound impact she had on their lives.

Wynona served on numerous committees and worked tirelessly on many fundraisers such as March of Dimes, benefiting the communities where she lived. A natural teacher, she loved helping others and modeled a life of ongoing enthusiasm and perseverance.

Her designs were often dreamed up in detailed sketches on napkins while dining at a restaurant. Wynona began designing and drawing homes, quickly gaining attention and eventually overseeing major projects, including one of the most spectacular homes in Kansas, nicknamed “The Castle,” and a popular Italian restaurant chain called Giorgio’s. Her home was selected multiple times for the Tour of Homes, and through one of those events she raised enough money for the hospital to purchase a new dialysis machine.

Wynona’s early fascination with horses began with a stick horse. Her grandmother later bought her a young filly that, to their surprise, grew into a large half-Percheron named Calamity Jane. At just eight years old, Wynona worked leading trail rides at Miss Markham’s Riding Academy. Later, as an empty nester, she returned to horses and went on to compete in world championship jumping, winning nearly every major equestrian award available. She and her horse, Ole Time Doodle, were named School Horse of the Year by the National Quarter Horse Association. She became an international sidesaddle champion and judge. The Canadian government paid her way to give a sidesaddle demonstration. Wynona was invited to ride in two Tournament of Roses Parades, four inaugural parades, the Kentucky Derby Parade, Macy’s, and many others. She rode with the Fort Leavenworth Hunt. She designed modern sidesaddles, attracting attention from Hollywood for her expertise in films such as The Good Ole Boys, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Sissy Spacek, giving them riding lessons and using her saddle and equipment. She also advised George Lucas on the sidesaddle used in the Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi.

Lee was devoted to his wife, driving across the United States to her horse shows, jumping competitions, and parades, hauling hay, and mucking stalls. They even attended an inaugural ball. Though Wynona and Lee were opposites, they shared a deep bond of loyalty, admiration, and enduring love.

Wynona adored her grandchildren, all of whom learned to ride and clean stalls. They were raised on a pony named Ginger. Wynona was athletic and liked to race them to the barn. Her eldest grandson Seth proudly bragged about finally beating his grandmother in a sprint, though his friends were not impressed.

Later in life, she and Lee ran a bed and breakfast out of their home in Salina, Kansas, hosting fascinating guests who were traveling with horses across the United States — a perfect fit for such gracious hosts.

Lee cared for his wife selflessly through her battle with Parkinson’s, taking over all household duties and her personal care, including caring for the horses and running the bed and breakfast himself, always setting a beautiful table just as she had done before. He became an amazing chef, cooking all her favorite meals.

Wynona passed peacefully on December 17, 2025, surrounded by family. She courageously battled Parkinson’s disease for 18 years. She was 84 years old and just days short of 65 years of marriage.

She is survived by her loving husband, Lee Delbert Mason; her son, Robert Wesley Mason; her daughter, Leigh Ann Thomas; her grandchildren, Seth Mason Thomas, Hailee Anne Mason, Calann Leigh Thomas, Riley Lee Mason, and Hannah Marie Mason; and her great-granddaughter, Charlotte Wesley.

She was preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Eleanora Evans; her mother, Georgia Fern McCandless; her father, Eral Hays McCandless; her in-laws, Delbert Cowden and Lois Alpha Mason; her sister, Lillian Dianna Bean; and her brother, George Leonard McCandless.

Cremation was under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home, Kimberling City, MO.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 2, 2026, at Roaring River State Park in Cassville, Missouri, at the River Shelter Pavilion. We would love it to be a shared table. Picnic at 12:00 p.m., with a service following. If you feel moved to bring a dish, please do — but your presence is what matters most. Come join us.

Cards may be mailed to:

Mason Family

7396 State Highway Y

Galena, MO 65656

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

www.equusfoundation.org

EQUUS Foundation for horse welfare

www.give.michaeljfox.org

The Michael J. Fox Foundation