Class of 1998
Book, Blanket & Friend
I pretty much lived at the Mason’s household. Lucas and I would generally wake before Sarah. We would get on our designated sides of the couch, wrapped in blankets and read. We may chat back and forth of what we were reading, but mostly just would read. It may not seem like much, but these quiet moments were definitely needed in my life.
Cheers to you Lucas.”
– Cassie
“Coolest guy!” Photo Courtesy Locker Partner Tarah Kile
“We were all falling asleep in Mrs Bridges English class. She was making us listen to a guy reading Beowulf. I remember Bridges getting really mad because we weren’t paying attention and we were all falling asleep.
She huffed her way to the record player and turned it off. Proceeded to turn around and demanded to know why we weren’t paying attention.
Luke raised his hand in the most calm manner and in one of the most intelligent rebuttals I have ever heard, told her why. He brought up the poor grammar in it, the sentence structure issues, etc etc. She proceeded to have an epic fit. Feet stomping, hair flying etc etc and then stormed out. We were all shocked when she left.
The room was quiet for a good minute. Nothing needed to be said. He had just said everything we were all feeling and couldn’t put into words! And so eloquently! We never heard of Beowulf again lol!”
– Jennifer (Monaghan) Milks
Photo Courtesy Rita Brock
A Sideways Look and a Smirk
“Luke was one of my best buds at Beaverton. I always remember him throughout school, but we really started hanging out in high school. There were 7 or 8 of us that were always together somewhere, and Luke was one of them.
I’ll never forget the way he laughed. It didn’t take much and he would be laughing out loud, usually at the expense of Nick Daniels or Chris Calhoun or Munger or because he pranked one of us and got away with it.
Whenever I think of Luke I picture the way he carried himself. More of a saunter than a walk and always a sideways look and a smirk.
We had so many fun times at bonfires at our house, Halloween parties in our pole barn, hanging out in the hallways at school. To name each memory of him would take a lifetime.
He is missed so much and I’m so thankful I knew and loved him as my friend. Happy 40th Luke!!! ❤”
– Carrie Monaghan
“Luke took my N self to LG.
Some remember, I’ll never forget.”
– Brett Evans
Stuff of Legend
“Nineteen people a dodge mini van. A hundred rolls of toilet paper and 1 magic 2×4, that apparently Lucas had hidden in his back pocket. So many great memories that it’s hard to pick one but for the nineteen people involved in this one it will always go down as one of the greats.”
– Clinton Fishtorn
Photo Courtesy Sarah Kile
“A big group of us met up at Mishler’s house for his birthday. We all decided we wanted to t-pee someone’s house but everyone we wanted to t-pee was there. We decided on Jeff Burdicks house. We loaded into a few cars and headed over to his house. All 20 of us piled into 1 van and made our way down the road. We all unloaded and started throwing t-pee.
We all know what happened next. I just remember Luke was to my left. My little sister on my right. When we heard the gunshots, I took off. Apparently someone grabbed my sister and Luke Karate chopped whoever it was and they let go of my sister. She escaped! Was always grateful for Luke that night.
The picture I’ve uploaded is most of the t-per group. We are holding up our name cards as if we are getting our mugshots taken. Terrifying night but such a fun memory!”
– Jennifer (Monaghan) Milks
Photo Courtesy Jennifer (Monaghan) Milks
“I hope you know Lucas is remembered! I was only blessed to know him for a year in high school, but I have carried the memory of him with me.” “
– Ana Cerepnalkoska
Summer of ’96
“A group of us went roller blading at the rail trail in the one picture. The other was some basketball and swimming at my house.”
– Scott Garrison
Photo Courtesy Debbie Mason
Betty Sue
“There are many stories I can tell about Luke, one of my favorites is about his first car, Betty Sue.
Betty Sue was a 1980 something Ford Escort that we bought for Luke on his 16th Birthday. Bill put a big red bow on the car and we gave it to him at his birthday party. Luke was excited to have transportation, soon all we every saw of Luke and his car were taillights. Within the very first months it was apparent that Luke had too much faith in the car abilities to navigate ditches, dodge oncoming traffic and maneuver lawns of irate homeowners who recently found out they had been tee peed.
Many of Luke’s phone calls home started with,”Hello is Dad there? I have a car question.” Which was code for I have banged up the car and need assistance hauling it home.
One night in particular I remember Luke calling the house asking to talk to Bill, and I said, “Luke did you wreck the car?”
Luke said, “Mom why would you ask me that…… but since you asked, yes, yes I did.”
So after inquiring if he was alright and was Chris Munger alright, I asked Luke if the car was alright. Luke said they slipped off the road and he was pretty sure he knocked the passenger side mirror off but he didn’t have time to really talk about it as the ambulance had just arrived. Naturally Bill and were curious about this especially that last part, so we drove to the scene to see Luke’s car upside down in a very deep ditch on Dale Road.
Both Luke and Chris were fine and Luke did tell the truth he did knock the passenger side mirror off along with a litany of other damages. The wrecker pulled the car out that night, the ambulance was dismissed, Luke and Chris were given a ride to there destination and believe it or not, later Bill and Luke repaired Betty Sue. I believe a sledge hammer and duct tape were involved.
Luke sold Betty Sue before he left for college. Luke was convinced that a compass that was on Betty Sue’s dash was the reason he had such misfortune with the car. I am not totally convinced that a navigational accessory could cause such havoc, but that was his story.”
– Luke’s Mom
School Dance
“My first vivid memories are from middle school and staying the night with the Mason clan as Lucas and I were going on a boat trip the next day. That was the moment the Masons broke into my heart.
The years to follow becoming friends more and more with Lucas. Always with quick wit and a friendly smile. Hated being called Lukey… but graciously allowed it anyway.
Got down on one knee with a quarter machine ring to ask me to a school dance. He was just an utterly amazing guy and one I have never forgotten. His carefree smile and friendship is greatly missed.”
– Rita (Brock) Sika
Photos Courtesy Rita (Brock) Sika
“By the time Luke was 16 he had read more books than I had in my 38 years. To say he liked reading was an understatement, for a time reading was his passion. We were having a conversation on what I believe was an assigned reading at school. He was commenting on a very dry and long saga he was reading. John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the issue being that the author took an entire chapter to describe a turtle crossing a road.
“Really Dad, haven’t you read Grapes of Wrath?” he said.
I replied, “No, I saw the movie though, I think it had Glen Ford in it. I don’t remember any turtle.”
Luke would give me that look, a look a teenager gives a parent when they realize this old person in front of them really isn’t a smart as once thought. We had good banter back and forth in the differences in the reading curriculum of Beaverton high school in 1975 verses that of 1996.
I was just really impressed he was reading a classic, even if it was assigned reading. To hear Luke expound on Steinbeck’s turtle I was thinking maybe I should have read more than just comic books in my early days. I could tell he was enjoying the book and the authors references to life’s everyday struggles. I was very proud of him, admired his comprehension skills.
He continued his rant on Steinbeck taking a chapter to talk about a turtle crossing the road. Stating how he could have done that in a paragraph, in a sentence, “Turtle crosses road!” What a hack! We had a great laugh over it and an in-depth conversation. Luke was fun to get into discussions with, always looking at things from a perspective I typically wouldn’t consider.
That brief story within a story. The turtle’s persistence and fortitude to overcome everyday obstacles in its way. It’s determination to get across that damn road despite’s its life perils is very poignant. Looking back on that conversation, one of many, it has stayed with me.
He was a great boy to raise my son, grew to a kind hearted and intelligent man. All the while that guy with a dry sense of wit and solid laugh, he will always bring a smile to my face.
My favorite closings of Luke’s,
Eat thy Bacon.“
– Luke’s Dad
