Art Mason was known for bringing smiles to his Wayzata McDonald’s customers.
WAYZATA, Minn. — Editor’s note: The video above first aired on March 4, 2019.
Art Mason, who spent 21 years working the drive-thru window at the Wayzata McDonald’s restaurant, has passed away. He was 92 years old.
Art suffered for years from post-polio syndrome. His brother, Stan Mason, says Art’s health declined for several months before his death on Oct. 23. A celebration of Art’s life was held on Nov. 18 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mound.
In 2019, Art was featured in a Land of 10,000 Stories segment on KARE 11.
Below, is the original story.
ORIGINAL STORY: March 4, 2019
In Minnesota the past few weeks, it’s taken some doing to find sunshine. Under the golden arches of Wayzata McDonald’s, finding sunshine is an art.
“I love Art; Art’s awesome. Yay, Art!” Amy Little says as she approaches Art Mason’s drive-thru window.
Amy is about to get a non-caffeinated bump.
“Good morning,” Art says with a broad smile as he slides open the drive-thru pay window to greet Amy. Two laughs follow close behind – one from Art and another from Amy. The sequence is not uncommon. Art’s laughter is contagious.
“He is just the sweetest, sweetest guy,” Melissa Wildermuth, another of Art’s customers, says. “So happy, so happy, like every day’s a great new day for him.”
If McDonald’s had a Burger King, Art Mason might well be wearing the crown.
“How ‘bout two small Sprites, a Sausage McMuffin and a hash-brown?” Art says as he delivers an order with the enthusiasm of a giddy carnival barker.
Not bad for a guy who retired from his factory job nearly 30 years ago – after which Art learned something about himself.
“It was good – for three months,” Art says. “Then I was bored to death.”
So, with one door closed, Art simply opened another.
The Wayzata McDonalds had found itself short-staffed. A manager asked Art if he would be willing to fill in for a couple of weeks.
Those two weeks turned into 29 years. “Twenty-nine years and I’ll be 89 in May,” Art says.
The temporary worker outlasted the owner, the managers and every other employee at the restaurant.
“Didn’t surprise us a bit,” Art’s brother, Stan Mason said. “He’s got to go, he’s got to go.”
Art, who never married, says, “I didn’t have time.”
A social person by nature, Art found the drive-thru to be a perfect fit – a daily parade during which he could repeatedly, and literally, reach out and touch someone.
“McDonald’s has great food, but I come here every day because of him,” customer Patty Kubalak says.
Art’s sister-in-law, JoAnne Mason, points to the warm blue scarf around Art’s neck. “One of his customers made that for him,” she says.
Other customers add to Art’s pin collection. His ever-present ball cap is decorated with dozens of them. Art estimates he’s taken home a thousand more – many are from destinations around the world that Art’s customers have visited, bringing him back a souvenir.
“All around good people,” Art says.
They’re the people Art is going to miss. “Yeah,” he says, looking down. It’s one of the few times the smile vanishes from Art’s face.
“I’m planning on leaving the 10,” Art says. May 10, two days before Art’s 89th birthday.
The laughter returns, as Art adds, “If I make it that far.”
The hours on the stool at the drive-thru are getting tougher for Art. “The bones are starting to ache more,” he says.
Art’s leg brace from a childhood bout with polio also isn’t helping either.
Stan Mason asked his brother what he had planned after his second retirement. “He said, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find something to do.’” Stan laughs out loud and adds, “No kidding!”
If only everything else in life could imitate Art.
RELATED: McDonald’s employee featured in Land of 10,000 Stories celebrates retirement
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