Leslie Gunnell Mason

Leslie passed away in the early evening hours of June 14, 2025. He was ninety-five years young. He just celebrated his birthday and when blowing out his candles, was asked what his wish was; his reply was, “To Live”. He loved life. He loved the beauty of the earth with her flowers and trees. He wrote often in letters describing the vibrant colors of flowers and vegetables growing in his garden. He loved every season and the changes it brought. He loved the sunshine, the rain, the wind and the snow. He desired to live to a ripe old age.

His famous line was this, “I’ve squeezed two days of living into one”

The life he created was full to the brim: honoring God, following Christ, books and study, service to God, service to country and his fellow man.

Surviving him is his beloved wife, Billie Antoinette, and six children: Maren Sue Lucero, Matthew Leslie Mason, Julianne Therese Svaldi, Kristine Marie Romero, Andrew McKay Mason and Jeanne Lynn Cook.

Leslie’s family legacy includes eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, all of whom he dearly loved.

He was proceeded in death by his wife Suzanne Allred Mason, his parents and 7 siblings.  He leaves behind his baby sister, Lorraine Wilson.

Les was born and reared by tenant tobacco farmers in the hills of Kentucky. He was born in the depression and often spoke of the hardships. His beloved mother, Mary, determined to feed her children and keep them together, lamented one afternoon, “If we starve, then we starve in a pile.” This upbringing remained with Leslie, resulting in him working three jobs his entire life. He was frugal and always saved for a rainy day.

As a youth, he worked on tobacco farms and raised chickens to supplement the family’s income. A defining moment came to Les at an early age when one morning, in the wagon heading to the fields, he made a decision that would change the course of his life. He jumped off the wagon and walked to the little schoolhouse and said, “Hello, my name is Leslie, and I want to go to school,” There began a love of learning and thus began his entire career of education and teaching.

He completed high school in 1950 at age 20 and immediately went on a mission to represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For the next two years, he worked in the Kashia Tribal Territory in northern California. Upon completion of his mission, he left for the Korean War. He was in foreign service, landing him in Frankfurt, Germany. He was a gunner on the M47 Patton tank. He was awarded numerous medals and served as an assistant clergyman. His time spent in the service of the United States of America remains one of his most revered roles. His service, along with four brothers who served in Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor and across the Philippines, has been his greatest honor.

Leslie attended Brigham Young University, receiving a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree. He married Suzanne Allred in the Salt Lake Temple in 1958 and moved to Arvada, Colorado.

The field of public education beckoned, and he was trained and certified to teach Religion, Psychology, History, Political Science with a counseling credential as well. The next 35 years, he held the position of elementary school principal in Jefferson County.  Also, he taught Early Morning Seminary for 18 years.

He had three children from the union with Suzanne:  Maren, Matthew and Andrew. They were deprived of their mother at an early age. Suzanne was killed in an automobile accident on July 30th, 1970.

Leslie, acting as both mother and father, was determined to raise the children, working around the clock. He learned to bake bread and pies, worked a full-time job, and he kept his home immaculate.

Leslie met Billie Magnelli as she was enrolling her little girl in his preschool program. His first date with her was a knock on the door and a homemade apple pie. He called her his angel. He married Billie Antoinette Magnelli in 1973. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple a year later. She had 3 young daughters: Julianne, Kristine and Jeanne. They worked side by side raising their large family.

Leslie received his Doctorate in Education Administration from Nova University in Florida. During the same year, he received his real estate license.

Their devotion and service to God was the foundation of their union. After owning and operating three businesses, they were called to serve as CES missionaries in the Alaska Anchorage Mission. They were responsible for the seminary and institute programs.

Upon returning home from their mission, they were called as ordinance workers in the Denver Colorado Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

As Les approached the fall years of his life, his energies along with a whopping dose of vitality was spent growing gardens, testifying of Christ and serving others. Billie and Les are proud grandparents of eight grandchildren and have 14 great-grandchildren.

Leslie’s life, his work ethic, his patriotism, his thirst for knowledge and his deep abiding faith in his Father in heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ was remarkable.  He will be greatly missed and remembered as a devoted husband to Billie for 52 years, a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Funeral services will be as follows:

Public Visitation will be held on July 1st, from 6:00 - 8:00pm at Horan and McConaty, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80003.

Funeral Service will be held on July 2nd, at 10:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 7080 Independence St. Arvada, CO 80004

Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery on July 2nd at 12:30pm.  Please arrive by 12:15pm. 

Dedication of the grave will be by Elias Lucero with Janie Lemmers on acoustic guitar.