William Albert Masterson, 85, died peacefully on Saturday, March 6, 2010, surrounded by the family who loved him so much.
A celebration of his life will be held at Elkins Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 10, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Mr. Masterson''s longtime friend, Ronny Powell, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Sheffield Oakwood Cemetery.
Mr. Masterson was a devoted and much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his wife of 24 years Lynn Estes Masterson; two daughters, Mary Shelnut and her husband Charles of Tampa, Florida, and Patti McBrayer of Florence; grandchildren Jennifer McClard, Jeffrey Shelnut, and DeeDee Grisham; great grandchildren Karsten, Kira, Casey, Gina and Logan; and numerous nieces and nephews. His family also included Mrs. Masterson''s son Robin Stephenson, his wife Becky, and their daughters Carly and Haley; and brother-in-law Dr. Charles Estes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Eugene Masterson, one sister Margaret Darby, and his wife of 39 years Bettye Crittenden Masterson, and a brother-in-law Ed Estes.
Mr. Masterson served his county in WWII as a member of the Army Air Corps stationed in England. He worked at Reynolds Metals Company for 30 years and retired from there in 1973 to become self employed building numerous apartment complexes around the Shoals area. His final apartment construction found Mr. Masterson remodeling the old Officers Quarters in the Village in Sheffield into 27 apartments. He was a long time member of First United Methodist Church of Florence, as well as a member of the Coffee High School Class of 42 Alumni group. Until illnesses overtook them, Mr. Masterson and his wife loved to travel, attend stage performances, enjoy dinner and dancing with friends, and, of course, time with their families. The annual fundraiser yard sale for the Ritz Theater was an event that he always enjoyed volunteering for and participating in.
The family would like to express a deep gratitude to the doctors and staff of the Northwest Alabama Cancer Center, the wonderful staff of Hospice of Tennessee Valley, and to Dr. Jerry Williams and Dr. Donald Conklin. Thank you all for taking such good care of this special man.
Active Pallbearers will be Charles Shelnut, Jeffrey Shelnut, Robin Stephenson, Walter Crawford, Charles Estes, and Jimmy Bratton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Marmann, Harold Reid, Rivers Lindsey, Carlton Hughes, George Oliver, Jimmy Holland, Jr. and members of the Graham Sunday School class of First United Methodist Church of Florence, as well as members of the Coffee High School Class of 42 Alumni Group.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Tennessee Valley or to Safeplace for Women and Children.