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- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 21 Mar 2011.
Iva Phillips obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 3 Apr 2018.
Coach, teacher Bob Mason dies
GATLINBURG -- It's no exaggeration to say Bob Mason dedicated his life to Gatlinburg-Pittman High School.
The G-P grad, who returned to his alma mater and spent decades as a teacher and coach, died Saturday. He was 64.
Mason taught math and coached a variety of sports over the years at the high school. He was serving as tennis coach at the time of his death, and he also served for years as an assistant basketball coach for boys and as head coach for the girls basketball team.
It was with the girls team that he had most of his coaching success, taking the squad to its first-ever substate game following a region championship in 1985.
"I am just so sad," Krissy Hammonds Sims, who played on that team and works as a part of the front office staff at Gatlinburg-Pittman, said. "He has been there forever. We are so going to miss him."
Sims' father, Benny Hammonds, was Mason's athletic director at the school for years and remembered Mason fondly on Monday.
"He was born and raised there in Gatlinburg and that was his entire life," Hammonds said.
When Mason wasn't teaching, he was in the gym or on the courts with his proteges, Hammonds recalled.
"He was a former athlete, and he loved what sports stood for and athletics, so he remained in it," Hammonds said.
Sevier County Schools Director Jack Parton grew up next door to Hammonds. The two of them went to G-P together.
"He was a great athlete and successful coach in girls and boys basketball and tennis," Parton said, and a "better person. (He) dedicated his life to the education of the children of the great Gatlinburg community."
A veteran teacher and good role model, Parton said that Mason was a Highlander For Life.
He is survied by his son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Denise Mason; his mother, Mary Mason; several siblings and extended family members.
Honoring that legacy, his family has said that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to G-P tennis team.
They will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday with a memorial service following at 7 p.m. in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home. The Rev. David Carver is officiating.
Contact Jeff at jfarrell@themountainpress.com, or on Twitter at @jeffmtnpress
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 31 Mar 2018.
Robert “Bob” Alexander Mason III, age 64 of Gatlinburg, passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018. Bob was an avid sports fan and he coached and taught school for over 30 years. He was most recently the Head Tennis coach at GP.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Mason and father, Robert Alexander Mason, II.
Survivors: Son: Bobby Mason (Denise); Mother: Mary Mason; Sisters: Loretta Wilson (Doug), Phyllis Mantooth (Billy); Brother: Richard Mason; Sisters-in-law: Freda Byrd (Bill,) and Peggy Wilson; Brothers-in-law: J.R. Phillips (Teresa) and L.H. Phillips; numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the GP Tennis Team.
The family will receive friend 5-7 PM Thursday with a memorial service following at 7 PM in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with Rev. David Carver officiating. Online condolences may be made at www.atchleyfuneralhome.com.
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 188446696).
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Abt 1954 - 2018 (~ 64 years)
, d. 17 Mar 1993 (Age 66 years) 
