About Mason

Mason Gabelein Smoak
A Life Dedicated to his Lord, Wife, and Children

Mason was born on October 22, 1974, to his parents Edward and Anne Smoak and big brother, Edward, Jr. He was raised in Lake Placid where he was surrounded by community, church, and growing oranges.

During Mason’s middle and high school years, he began his life of involvement and achievements. He was a leader in many extracurricular organizations, a 4-year member of the high school swim and tennis teams, Boy’s State participant, selected to serve as a Messenger for the Florida House of Representatives, and an active participant of his Methodist youth group. He graduated Lake Placid High School in 1993 as the salutatorian of his class.

Mason received his degree in Food and Resource Economics through the College of Agriculture at the University of Florida in May 1997. Mason joined the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity while at UF, and created many life long friendships.

During Mason’s middle school years in Lake Placid, God brought an Alabama girl into his life. Mason and Tracee started “going steady” during these years and truly felt that God had big plans for them. These very early beginnings grew into a deep love and commitment for each other as they were married on December 30, 1995.

Mason and Tracee returned home to Lake Placid after they graduated from the University of Florida, and Mason began his role in the family business of citrus and cattle. In a few short years, Mason and his cousin John were managing the business and taking leadership roles in the citrus industry. Mason served agriculture as current President of Highlands County Citrus Growers, Chairman of the Heartland Agriculture Coalition, Past President of Highlands County Farm Bureau, and Past President of Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers. Mason had a true heart for agriculture and felt a responsibility to be involved beyond his local area. His leadership skills continued to grow as he was a member of the University of Florida’s Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and he was asked to use these skills in such events as testifying before the House Ag Committee in Washington D.C. about the labor needs for American agriculture. In 2005, Mason was awarded the Horizon Award from UF’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for his great contributions to agriculture.

Mason also had a love of community and served as a board member of Highlands County Habitat for Humanity and a founding board member of Highlands County Ag-Venture. He served his Lord as a faithful leader at Memorial United Methodist Church of Lake Placid.

Mason had a love for many wonderful things: agriculture, community, church, and always top on his list was flying; but his true delight came from his family and friends. His great joy in life came from his three children, Gabe, Landon, and Ellie. He saw each of them as a unique blessing from the Lord and it was his job to raise them in love and in God. Whenever he saw his babies coming around the corner, he got a special twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.

Each day of Mason’s life was considered a gift from God that was lived to the fullest. His commitment to his Lord was evident in his daily interactions with his family, friends, and strangers on the street. Mason never knew a stranger because he immediately set out to get to know people and connect with them. He had a desire to always share a bright smile, a joke at your expense, a word of encouragement, or anything else he had to offer. A fellow citrus grower summed up Mason’s positive attitude by saying Mason “always saw hope and opportunity when so many others were experiencing discouragement as citrus growers”. In the midst of any challenge or obstacle, Mason’s hope in the Lord shone through.

On June 20, 2008, at the age of 33, Mason was taken from this earth and joined our Lord and Savior in heaven. He was performing a routine flight with friend and biologist, Dave Maehr, as they were completing an aerial survey of the Highlands County black bear population. Dave was a professor from the University of Kentucky and visiting scientist at Archibold Biological Station. Our love and prayers go out the family of Dave Maehr as we mourn the loss of two wonderful men.

We have a huge hole remaining in our hearts, but as we celebrate Mason’s abundant life and the light of Christ within him, may our paths be a bit brighter as he continues to live in us.