Obituary for Mary Elizabeth Masters (Lawless)
On Monday, August 12, 2019, Mary Elizabeth Masters completed her life on earth to go to her Heavenly Home. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 17th, 2019, at Central Christian Church, Enid OK. Beth was born on May 31, 1926, in Lawton, Oklahoma. She was raised in Duncan, Oklahoma, where she completed high school at the age of 16. She moved to Enid to attend Phillips University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Education and met her husband, Dr. William (Bill) Masters. Bill and Beth were married August 20, 1947, at Central Christian Church in Enid, OK. Beth taught English for Enid Public Schools while Bill completed his education at Phillips University. He and Beth began their first ministry in Spearman, Texas, in 1948.
Bill and Beth raised two children, a daughter, Polly, and a son, Marc. They later served churches in Nash, OK; Mangum, OK; Duncan, OK; and Ponca City, OK. In 1985, the Masters moved to Neosho, MO, as minister of The First Christian Church. He retired from full time ministry there in 1990. Bill and Beth continued to serve churches in Enid OK; Claremore, OK; Miami, OK; and Camdenton, MO, as Interim Minister while maintaining their home in Neosho. The Masters fully retired in 2002, before returning to Enid in 2015 where they first started their lives together.
Beth was an active leader in the many churches during Bill’s ministry from 1948 until 2002. Together, they held numerous district, regional, and general offices for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). During the 20 years in Ponca City, Mrs. Masters was active in various community leadership work. She was instrumental in the formation of the Child Development Center at First Christian Church and served as the first chairperson of its Board of Directors. She was president of Church Women United and during her term of office, Meals on Wheels was inaugurated. She helped organize the 55 and Older Club and served as its director for six years. She served on the budget board with the United Way and was a delegate from Oklahoma to the President’s White House Conference on Aging in 1970. While ministering at the First Christian Church of Neosho, Beth and Bill developed a dynamic high school youth fellowship group, which met weekly in their home. While in Ponca City, Beth was also a partner in Bartlett Tours of Ponca City. She worked with several organizations to develop tourism in Oklahoma, including attending the World Travel Market in London, England, with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Beth continued to host international tour groups through “Masters Tours” while residing in Claremore and Neosho.
Beth was a member of the P.E.O. Chapter JO in Neosho, MO, and of the P.E.O. Chapter AQ in Enid, OK. She was particularly proud of the educational scholarships the PEO Sisters provided for young women. This last year she continued as project director for Scholars Award. Beth was known for her compassion, unconditional love, gracious hosting, faithfulness, smart sense of humor, and dedication to her family. She enjoyed hosting people in her home and always wanted those who entered to feel welcome. She enjoyed singing in the church choir, gardening, floral arranging, baking, catering, playing Bridge, mornings in the sunroom watching the birds, and summer vacations with family in the Rocky Mountains of Crested Butte, Colorado. Beth was an avid book lover and instilled a love of classic literature in her children and great-grandchildren. Beth was preceded in death by her mother, Elsie Lawless; her sister, Elsie Ann Pazzo; and her brother, Estill Lawless. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Bill Masters of Enid, OK, and her two children, Polly Maxwell of Enid, OK, and Marc Masters of Conifer, CO. Grandchildren are Brian (Ali) Masters, Denver, CO; Angela (Mark) Johnson, Norman, OK; Ashley (Mark) Kimbrell, Ponca City, OK; Capt Trevor Maxwell, United States Air Force. They have eight great grandchildren.
Memorials may be made for Phillips Theological Seminary or Oklahoma P.E.O. Projects Fund for Continuing Education Grants. Ladusau Evans Funeral Home P.O. Box 3501 Enid, OK 73702 will act as custodians of the funds. Condolences may be made online and the service will be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com
Bill and Beth raised two children, a daughter, Polly, and a son, Marc. They later served churches in Nash, OK; Mangum, OK; Duncan, OK; and Ponca City, OK. In 1985, the Masters moved to Neosho, MO, as minister of The First Christian Church. He retired from full time ministry there in 1990. Bill and Beth continued to serve churches in Enid OK; Claremore, OK; Miami, OK; and Camdenton, MO, as Interim Minister while maintaining their home in Neosho. The Masters fully retired in 2002, before returning to Enid in 2015 where they first started their lives together.
Beth was an active leader in the many churches during Bill’s ministry from 1948 until 2002. Together, they held numerous district, regional, and general offices for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). During the 20 years in Ponca City, Mrs. Masters was active in various community leadership work. She was instrumental in the formation of the Child Development Center at First Christian Church and served as the first chairperson of its Board of Directors. She was president of Church Women United and during her term of office, Meals on Wheels was inaugurated. She helped organize the 55 and Older Club and served as its director for six years. She served on the budget board with the United Way and was a delegate from Oklahoma to the President’s White House Conference on Aging in 1970. While ministering at the First Christian Church of Neosho, Beth and Bill developed a dynamic high school youth fellowship group, which met weekly in their home. While in Ponca City, Beth was also a partner in Bartlett Tours of Ponca City. She worked with several organizations to develop tourism in Oklahoma, including attending the World Travel Market in London, England, with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Beth continued to host international tour groups through “Masters Tours” while residing in Claremore and Neosho.
Beth was a member of the P.E.O. Chapter JO in Neosho, MO, and of the P.E.O. Chapter AQ in Enid, OK. She was particularly proud of the educational scholarships the PEO Sisters provided for young women. This last year she continued as project director for Scholars Award. Beth was known for her compassion, unconditional love, gracious hosting, faithfulness, smart sense of humor, and dedication to her family. She enjoyed hosting people in her home and always wanted those who entered to feel welcome. She enjoyed singing in the church choir, gardening, floral arranging, baking, catering, playing Bridge, mornings in the sunroom watching the birds, and summer vacations with family in the Rocky Mountains of Crested Butte, Colorado. Beth was an avid book lover and instilled a love of classic literature in her children and great-grandchildren. Beth was preceded in death by her mother, Elsie Lawless; her sister, Elsie Ann Pazzo; and her brother, Estill Lawless. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Bill Masters of Enid, OK, and her two children, Polly Maxwell of Enid, OK, and Marc Masters of Conifer, CO. Grandchildren are Brian (Ali) Masters, Denver, CO; Angela (Mark) Johnson, Norman, OK; Ashley (Mark) Kimbrell, Ponca City, OK; Capt Trevor Maxwell, United States Air Force. They have eight great grandchildren.
Memorials may be made for Phillips Theological Seminary or Oklahoma P.E.O. Projects Fund for Continuing Education Grants. Ladusau Evans Funeral Home P.O. Box 3501 Enid, OK 73702 will act as custodians of the funds. Condolences may be made online and the service will be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com