Mason Fontenot is turning 97 this Sunday, September 5. Fontenot is known throughout the area by many as the man who is usually pedaling wares like watermelon, sweet potatoes and even baked items like homemade jelly and pound cake.
When asked if he was going to party for his 97th birthday, Fontenot laughed and said, “Not really, unless I’m surprised by one of my family members.”
Fontenot grew up in the area known as Kingsfarm. He was born to David Fontenot and Daisy Buller Fontenot.
He married Laura Mae, who died at Christmas approximately four years ago. The couple had three daughters, Brenda Horner of Iowa (married to Jimmy) Cythia Istre of Lake Arthur (married to Rudy) and Dell Tuiller of Lake Charles (married to Jay) and one son, Kent. Today, he is the grandfather to 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. And as he celebrates his birthday, he is awaiting the birth of another great-great grandchild.
During his lifetime, Fontenot worked on the farm, as a carpenter, an iron worker in Lake Charles for a few years and at Kinder’s former Savant Lumber Yard. He said he enjoyed building and remodeling houses around the Kinder area for many years.
Fontenot built his first house on an acre of land that his father gave him. At the time his house was located on Parishline Road, but it was so dusty out there he moved to his present location which is about one mile into Jeff Davis Parish. He said his home address is Fenton. He still resides next to two of his brothers, who also built houses on land given to them by their father, Erman and Norman “Blackie.” He said he enjoys visiting his brothers.
“I always did like to visit, so it’s usually me visiting them.”
Fontenot was working in the rice fields when World War II started. He was in the Navy in the South Pacific near China. He likes to recall the story when he learned one of his three brothers, who also served their country in the war, was on a ship passing his ship in the South Pacific. He said they were able to meet and visit at that point.
“It was a nice surprise,” he said when his brother was able to meet with him for a visit.
He said one of his brothers died of natural causes and another the family lost during the war. He said he was in the service and was in an auto accident that took his life.
Fontenot recalls when the five brothers would travel to Lake Charles to work during the day and return home to work on carpentry projects and other things.
“We all worked together to build our first houses,” he recalled. “Within a year, we got rid of the older houses and built better remodeled houses.” He said they utilized their knowledge to build better structures.
“I’ve learned how to get along with people,” Fontenot said about the one thing he has learned in his lifetime. “I learned how to work. I didn’t have much school but I had a pretty good knowledge of what to do.”
Fontenot said he first went to work with two cousins where he learned everything he could about remodeling houses and building houses.
Horner said when their mom was alive, Fontenot would work a garden and sell the things he grew. She said her mom made all the cakes and jelly her father could sell. When her mom died, she said her dad called her up one day and asked if she was busy. He went to meet her and told her she was going to show him how to make jelly. A few more months, and he was calling her again to show him how to make his wife’s pound cakes. She said now he does the cooking and the selling.
“We like to laugh and tease that if something happens to dad, Kinder will be on one of the biggest diets.” She said his friends are always calling him asking him to sell items for him.
She added when it comes to food, her dad has a lot of connections.
This is the first year, he didn’t plant a garden, Horner said. The house was damaged by the storm, and he was going to get a trailer. Then they decided to remodel the house. “It’s not looking like mom had it,” she said. “It’s a new era.”
Fontenot said he and his wife had a good life together. When he was in his 40s, he didn’t think he was going to make it. He remembered telling one of his daughters that he might not see his 50th wedding anniversary, so they celebrated the couple’s 45th anniversary.
“And I made the 50th; the 55th; the 60th, the 65th and I’m still here,” Fontenot said. My wife was six years younger than me. She died at 88. She fought cancer twice but it got her the second time.
“We had a good life though,” he said.
Right now, he’s missing making his garden. He said one of his favorite things is to sell items around town. I enjoy doing it. The people want me to do it.
Fontenot’s favorite meal is probably gumbo, although he said he can eat just about anything and it doesn’t hurt him. “It might be the reason I’m still here.”
He recalls once, one of his daughters was asked about his young-looking appearance. He said she told them, “he eats a lot of sweet potatoes.”
Horner said her dad still drives to her house to visit. She said as a kid that’s one thing she remembers about her parents. She said they would sit on the porch and relax and visit. She said sometimes that pot of stew meat on the stove became a pot of gumbo for Sunday dinner when they invited visitors to join them for a meal.
“Everybody loves dad,” she said. “We’ve been very blessed. He has a sound mind, and if you try to cheat him, he will let you know.”
She said even if her father misses his recipe for jellies and cakes, people still buy them. She said he enjoys that so much.
Horner didn’t know what the family had planned for her father’s birthday. She said it would probably be small due to Covid-19 and Hurricane Ida. One of her daughters lives in the area affected by the hurricane.
“We can’t let it pass without doing something,” she said.
Happy birthday Mr. Mason. We hope you continue to share your smile and knowledge among the citizens of Kinder.
