Doris E. Masterson

Doris Elaine Masterson Melbourne, FL Doris Elaine Masterson died March 22, 2012 after battling cancer for 18 months. Doris was a lover and beloved Christian wife, mother and friend of a lifetime. A talented musician and scholar, she earned scholarships to Interlochen National Music Camp and was Valedictorian of her Fowlerville High School Class of 1951, receiving a Scholarship to Michigan State University. Doris, the mother, dedicated herself to nurturing her seven children, Martin Andrew, Terese Elaine, Julia Beth, Sarah Irene, John Patrick, Edward Paul and Patricia Jean, and fourteen grandchildren Doris, the wife, was a high school sweetheart who became a Roman Catholic, and married Gordon ""Bat"" Masterson at the age of 20, followed by fifty-seven plus years of the best that marriage has to offer. She pledged herself to serving her husband, Gordon, her family and her country through twenty-eight years of U.S. Air Force adventures around the USA and abroad-Alaska (the territory), Thailand and England. She encouraged her husband Gordon through his career starting as a Second Lieutenant all the way to Brigadier General. In 1968, at age 34 and while living in Bangkok, Thailand, a hand cancer led to amputation of her left hand below the elbow at the Presidio Army Hospital in San Francisco. After amputation she quickly resumed care of six, and eventually seven children, so masterfully, that neither she nor those who knew her ever thought of her as handicapped or limited. To her friends, she was always thoughtful, pleasant, generous, forgiving and fun-loving, accumulating a host of admirers. After Gordon retired from the Air Force in 1984, they moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida. With the ""nest"" empty, Doris sought another way to serve others. She became renowned as the ""tax lady"" at H & R Block where she used her fine mind to solve tax challenges for twenty-six years. Her dedicated and grateful clients are legion. In her free time Doris loved competition in games, puzzles, sports and any mind challenging activity. Doris is survived by her husband, Gordon; her seven children, thirteen grandchildren and two brothers. Richard and James; and three sisters, Katherine, Judy and Linda. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30AM, Thursday, March 29, 2012 at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Viera followed by a reception at the Indian River Colony Club, Colony Hall. Later, she and Gordon will be buried with a common service at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. In lieu of flowers contributions to MOAACC Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 254708, Patrick Air Force Base, Fl 32925-4708 or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, 2nd floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. You may sign Doris's guest book at www.beckmanwilliamson.com