Born in rural Arkansas to Walter and Alma Dillard Mason. Life was hard and money scarce. Orgel developed an interest in shape-note singing as a teen, and at age 19, with $20 made from picking cotton, he hitch-hiked to Dallas,Texas, to the Stamps-Baxter School of Music, to learn how to teach this method of singing, that dates back to the 19th Century. He came back to Arkansas to farm, but the Depression and the years to follow were bleak. He took his wife, Geneva Helm, whom he married in February of 1938, and with friends, they moved to Wannatche, WA, to work in the apple orchards. They returned to Arkansas, where he farmed and became a piano tuner, which he did until right before he died. In 1947, Orgel started a Singing School in Brockwell,Arkansas, with others from the county, and it has continued for 60 years, with the assistance of many volunteers of all musical abilities. Hundreds have come through the school from all over the country. (Orgel is written about in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, and he and the singing school were featured in a documentary on shape-note singing by the Department on Southern Culture, University of Mississippi.) The Mason's moved to Brockwell in 1953, and the home on the crossroads of Hwy 9 and 56, did not have running water until 1965! This did not hinder the Mason's from being resourceful, and hard working, planting a huge garden every year with the aide of a donkey, "Flop Ears" who lived over 20 years! They raised two sons, Loye and Chaney, in that house on the hill in the Ozarks. They were God-fearing, loved and respected members of their county. Orgel was well known throughout northern Arkansas and southwest Missouri. He was a humble and honest man, with a few quirks, a big heart, and a deep love for Southern Gospel Music. Generations have benefited from his desire to share that love with others.
(My FIL & 4th Cousin 2x removed)

Thank you OkieBran for the photograph of the grave/cemetery, on March 31, 2007.