Julia Mae Masterson
Julia Mae Masterson
Oskaloosa. Julia Mae Masterson, 100, of Oskaloosa and formerly of Tracy, died Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa. Julia Mae Baker was born September 23, 1910, to James and Maud (Shoener) Baker near Marysville, Iowa. She attended a one-room country school until 4th grade and then went to Marysville Elementary school and commuted daily on horseback. She finished her education at the Bussey High School and continued to commute by horseback until her senior year when she rented a room in Bussey, staying with a married sister, Pearl Owen. She graduated in 1928 as salutatorian of her class. On August 14, 1929, she married Guy Masterson at Bussey and Guy died in 1988. They farmed in the Bussey/Tracy area and Julia worked side-by-side with her husband on the farm. They retired and moved into Tracy in 1972. They began spending the winters in south Texas in 1979 where they made many friends and enjoyed the winter sun. In 2000 Julia moved to Shady Lodge in Oskaloosa. In 2008, she moved into Maple Ridge Assisted Living. On September 23, 2010, she celebrated her 100th birthday with an open house. The next day she fell and broke her hip. When discharged from the hospital she moved into Crystal Heights Care Center. For many years she attended the Tracy Methodist Church, and in Texas she attended the Mid Valley Nazarene Church in Weslaco. She knew Jesus as her Savior at an early age and recommitted herself to Him in the 1990\’s. She was known for her generosity, intelligence, and wit and her ability to write poems, skits and plays. She will be greatly missed.
She leaves her two daughters: Lois (& Ray) Batchelder of Sigourney and Wilma Douglas of Oskaloosa; five grandchildren: Rick (& Patti) Douglas, Connie Douglas, Patricia (& Dean) Hasselman, Jacqueline (& Phil) Griffin, and Joyce (& Dennis) Bowman; five great-grandchildren: Eric Douglas, Kate Douglas, Scott Griffin, Amy Griffin, Julia Bowman; nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Guy; her parents; two sons in law: Dean Douglas and Loyle Edmundson; three brothers: Floyd, Vern, and Gerald; two sisters: Pearl Owen Cheney and Leah Davis.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 22, 2011, at 1 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with Reverend Dr. Dennis Morey officiating. Burial will be in the Bellefountaine Cemetery near Tracy. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Saturday morning after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Tracy United Methodist Church or Tracy Fire Department.
Source: Bates Funeral Chapel
