Brother John “Corky” Wheeler Daut passed away July 11, 2016 at the age of 88. In his earlier years he was Superintendent of the Department of Solid Waste for Houston, Texas. Later he was to open his own business, Daut’s Repair Service, repairing small engines and sharpening saws. Towards the end of his life he operated Pine Island Pen Works specializing in the manufacture and sale of wooden writing pens.
But he is best known for “The Small Town Texas Masons E-Magazine” that he published every month. It was a prodigious undertaking that included Masonic articles from all over the world. From Masonic News to esoteric studies to writings from the Old Masters and everything in between, the magazine covered the thought and the going-ons of Freemasonry. He wrote the last edition just weeks before his death. He also published a newsletter-magazine for his own Lodge, Waller Lodge of Pine Island Texas where he touted, “We Are The Largest, ‘Small Town Texas Lodge’ Web Site, On The Internet, Over 100 Pages of Masonic Information and Education.”
He was raised to a Master Mason in the Cedar Bayou Lodge #321 at the age of 64. Later he joined Humble Lodge #79 but demitted from both when he moved to Pine Island Texas. There he joined Waller Lodge #808 and became its Master in 2005. Along the way he affiliated with Hempsted Lodge #749 and became its Secretary.
Daut penned an extensive history of the Pine Island, Texas Community which can be read here – http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/pineisland/pisland.htm
A touching letter to his father titled “Dear Dad, A Letter To the Celestial Lodge” long after his father had passed can be read here – http://www.mastermason.com/hempstead749/deardad.htm
Brother Daut’s enthusiasm for the Craft and his outreach to Masons all over the world from a small Texas community makes his accomplishments all the more laudable. He showed the world what can be done when your heart is in the right place and you possess and display the peace and harmony that Masonry teaches you.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant! Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”
He will be missed! I stumbled across the ” Small Town In Texas Masons E-magszine” some years ago and soon found myself reading it regularly. Br.”Corky” was a valuabl resource for every Texas Mason. RIP brother Corky. Eternal Love & Light.
Have been exchanging e mails for only a short time Corky had informed me he had Aug news letter finished ready for publication , and that he worked one month ahead, I have just read the very sad news as I was searching for the Aug newsletter. Rest in peace brother you have Marked well
Stuart lodge 173 Grand Lodge of Scotland
I just ran across this in a Google search. Corky was my dad. He would have loved this. Thank you for the wonderful tribute to him. Bless you Sir.