Obituary: Jay Arthur Mason, 66; Former Wallingford Police Officer

Jay Arthur Mason, 66, of Higganum, passed away August 10, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born in Beacon, New York on August 3, 1950, a son of the late Charles and Helen Baxter Mason.

He graduated from East Haven High school in 1968; received an associates degree from the University of New Haven where he majored in law enforcement, and attended Montgomery Community College in Maryland.

He was a police officer with the Wallingford Police Department for over 25 years until retiring in 1997. While serving with the police department, he returned to the academy and attended the accident & reconstruction and photography programs. He was a member of the Police Benevolent Association and was a member of the Branford Elks. After retiring, he owned and operated Higganum Woods. He was an avid fisherman, was passionate about wood carving, and loved stamp collecting.

He is survived by his former wife and lifelong companion, Theresa Mason-Jackson; two daughters, Robin Mason (Jeffrey) Papuga of Higganum and Sheri Mason (Robert Rumrill) of Boston, MA; his brothers, Charles “Chip” (Rose) Mason, owners of Bousquet's Service Station, and Thomas (Penny) Gallagher; his grandchildren, Damien Mason and Tristan Papuga; his nephews, Dennis and Thomas, and his nieces Heather, Christine, Kathy, and Karen. He was predeceased by his niece, Kelley Mason, and his brother, Dennis Gallagher.

His family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., on Friday, August 12, 2016 from 5 until 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, Saturday, August 13, at 10 a.m. directly at St. Monica Catholic Church, 1331 Middletown Ave., Northford. Interment will be in All Saints Cemetery in North Haven.

To leave online condolences, visit the Wallingford Funeral Home here.

From Wallingford Funeral Home