James Mason, the first and last mayor of the Town of Clearwater, is being remembered as a driving force in the effort to amalgamate with the City of Sarnia in 1991.
Mason, 88, died peacefully at Marshall Gowland Manor Saturday.
Sarnia councillor Mike Stark, who served on Clearwater council with Mason for two years, remembers him fondly.
"I'm saddened to hear of James' passing, particularity considering his family, who have enjoyed his company for so many years," said Stark. "I am proud of Jim and what he did in terms of transitioning the Town of Clearwater into a cooperative amalgamation with the City of Sarnia and then bringing the new city into the county and essentially transforming the governmental structure of Lambton County forever."
Stark said Mason was in tune with the people he served.
"He had his pulse on what the people of the Town of Clearwater wanted and understood that there would need to be a bold step to make sure that the amalgamation occurred and he was prepared to do that, and in fact did that. I'm very proud of the fact that I got a chance to serve with him."
Mason served for Sarnia Township as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve.
He is survived by his wife Phyllis of 61 years.
A visitation is planned from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Smith Funeral Home.
A funeral will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home, with interment to follow at Wyoming Cemetery.
Mason's obituary can be viewed here.