A Celebration of Life for Harold Hoerster

Harold Clay Hoerster was born on September 12, 1939, to Marvin and Pearl Hoerster in Mason, Texas, and passed away on July 27, 2026, at the age of 86.

He was one of sixty-eight babies delivered by midwife Mrs. Charlie Beck in her home on Pecan Street since, at the time, Mason did not have a hospital. Mrs. Beck also delivered his brother twenty-six months earlier.

He grew up on the family ranch in southwestern Mason County in the Blue Mountain Community. The ranch house, located off a twenty-two-mile dirt road, was void of most conveniences. He attended the one-room Blue Mountain School for three years before it was consolidated into Mason ISD in 1948. He studied by the light of kerosene lamps until the community received electricity in 1946.

He graduated from Mason High School in 1957. He participated in the FFA Chapter on grass and meat judging teams and was Chapter President his senior year. He also earned The Lone Star Farmer Degree, attended FFA area meetings and a state convention in Dallas.

After graduation, he moved to San Antonio and attended Draughon’s Business College. He enrolled in night classes at San Antonio Junior College to work his way through college. On April 8, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Fran Davenport. They made their home in San Antonio, where he continued working and attending night classes. He continued assisting with the family ranching operations on weekends as much as possible. In the fall of 1964, he enrolled full-time in St. Mary’s University, graduating in the spring of 1966 with a BBA Degree in Accounting.

Growing up on a ranch conditioned him to hard work. He was introduced to horseback riding at a young age. He rode horseback looking for animals that might have screwworms. He recalled those days when ranchers had to ride two to three days a week inspecting their livestock using trained dogs to search for the infected animals. Over the years, he spent hundreds of miles in a saddle assisting with caring for the goats, sheep, and cattle on the ranch.

In 1966, the young family moved to Dallas, where he worked for Mobil Oil Company in their downtown office building; the old building with the sign of the well-known “Flying Red Horse” on its roof. Two years later, he went to work for Gifford Hill Pipe Company. Lastly, in Dallas, he worked for Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO).

The family was active in White Rock United Methodist Church in Dallas. He became an active leader in the Boy Scouts, serving as Patrol Dad, Committee Chairman, and, lastly, Scoutmaster for Troop 636, which had over fifty boys in the troop at one time. He and his son, Ric, participated in a one hundred twenty-mile, ten-day backpacking trip in the beautiful mountains on the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. The troop went on monthly camping trips so city boys could experience nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There were some wet campouts, but he enjoyed the many trips with the boys and other dads. Harold and Fran encouraged both sons to achieve the highest honor in Scouting: the Rank of Eagle Scout, which made the parents very proud of their sons’ accomplishments. They enjoyed weekend camping and summer vacation trips. They visited Mason as often as possible so Harold and his sons could help with the ranching operations while teaching his sons about ranch life and the animals raised on the ranch.

He and Fran continued to travel with their R/V whenever the opportunity provided. Over the years, he pulled travel trailers over seventy-five thousand miles through thirty-eight states, without a mishap. Business and non-R/V trips took him to four additional states.

He was transferred with ARCO to Midland, TX, where Fran and he were active members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, serving on several committees and enjoying visiting prospective members.

After sixteen years in Midland, he and Fran decided to return to their Mason roots in 2001. They continued to travel with their R/V as much as possible until the fall of 2009. They have been involved with the Methodist Church in Mason, where they were active members and both sang in the choir. He also served on the Mason Hospital Clinic Board, was an active Lions Club member for fifteen years, and delivered Meals on Wheels for ten years. He helped the Methodist Men mow the Mason-Jackson and the Lower Willow Creek Cemeteries.

To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 2011, he, Fran, and son Ken went on a ten-day Alaskan cruise and road trip.

He grew up in a loving Christian home, was baptized by his grandfather, Rev. Robert Moerner, on March 22, 1940, in the Art Methodist Church where Rev. Moerner served on three different occasions. He joined the First Methodist Church in Mason on April 17, 1949. He loved the Lord and spent time reading and studying the Bible. He joined the Gideons International in 2009 and was an active member serving the Lord in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Pearl, and wife Fran. He is survived by his two sons and their wives; Ken and Lauren Hoerster of Fredericksburg; Ric and Christi Hoerster of Midland; brother Dennis Hoerster of Granbury; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Gary and Cecilia Worden of Mason; and by Paul and Nancy Davenport of Boerne. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Emily Hoerster, Kathy Narvaez and husband Hazael, Sara Escobar and husband Juan, Rachel Kinard and husband Brandon, Tony Harris and wife Julia, Andrew Harris Hoerster, Michelle Harris; and by six great-grandchildren; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Knopp #2 Rehab Center, especially Maria and Irma and all the others, for the gracious care over the last 12 months. And we want to thank the Rode brothers, Anthony and William, for being at Knopp every morning to help serve and feed the patients.

Visitation is on Friday, July 31, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 at the Mason Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held at the First United Methodist Church on August 1, 2026, at 10:00 am. A burial will follow at Gooch Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the Mason Global Methodist Church and/or First United Methodist Church in Mason; The Gideons International, PO Box 207, Mason, TX 76856; or to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.