Mason Porter Coates passed away 7/13/23, at the age of 23. He lived a full life filled with adventure, love, and deep connections. He brought joy and warmth to everyone he touched, and he will live on forever in the hearts and memories of everyone who knew him.

Mason was born on September 24,1999, in Folsom, California to Wendy and Nile Coates. He grew up in a home filled with love, and he cherished his younger sisters, Delaney and Aubrey. Mason lived his first five years in Northern California before moving across the country to Waterford, Virginia in 2005. He loved growing up in Waterford, exploring the small town with his crew, finding hidden passageways to the waterfall, building forts and snowboard jumps, and playing endless hours of backyard football and basketball. For Mason, life was an adventure and friendship was the most important thing to him. While he excelled in every area of his life, his greatest success was fostering connections and compassionately caring about others.

Mason was a high-achiever and a natural at whatever he focused on. He succeeded in every sport he played, but his proudest attribute was his intelligence. He excelled in school, and left a trail of accomplishments at Waterford Elementary, Harmony Middle School, and Woodgrove High School, something that his younger sisters complained about.

Ever since he was a young boy, Mason focused on people, and he strived to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Mason was devoted to his friends and sisters. People have always been drawn to Mason because of his optimism and positive energy, he was the light in every room he walked into. One of Mason's greatest strengths was his intellect. He graduated high school with honors and he chose to attend UVA to study economics. He successfully graduated from UVA with honors in 2022, and he was one semester away from receiving his master's in finance from the UVA McIntire School of Commerce. Mason accepted a position with Deloitte, and he was going to begin his dream job upon completing his master's degree.

Attending UVA allowed Mason to add to his family. He joined Sigma Alpha Mu as a first year, and his new friendships helped Mason get the most out of life. He developed a love for travel, from incredible snowboarding trips to jet setting around Europe, Mason was always up for an adventure. He found that regardless of the language barriers he could find his place anywhere in the world.

In true Mason fashion, he had already started envisioning a trip for his snowboarding friends to go to South America next summer. Mason dreamed of snowboarding on all seven continents, and we have no doubt he would have achieved this goal had his life not been cut short. Mason gave his all to everything he did, whether it was skydiving, snowboarding the expert runs of the highest mountains in Colorado, or just hanging out with friends. Mason lived more in his 23 years than most people live in a lifetime. We will be grateful for the rest of our lives for the joy and love he brought to us and the world.

Mason is survived by his mom, Wendy, his dad, Nile, and his two sisters, Delaney (21) and Aubrey (16).

A viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday, July 21st, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, NE, Leesburg, Virginia.

Everyone is welcome to celebrate his life on Friday, July 21st, 5:30 – 8:30 at Hope Flower Farm, 40905 Stumptown Rd, Waterford, VA 20197