Betty Jo Masters

Betty Jo Masters, of Thornton, passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Parkview Regional Hospital in Mexia, at age 93. Visitation will be Thursday, December 20, 2018, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, December 21, 2018 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Tracy Sims officiating.  Burial will follow in Thornton Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Lori Masters, Dena Masters, Sherri Masters, Amanda Savage, Misty Sullivan, Leslie Sullivan, Ashley Minchew, Andrea Cromeens, Lauren Gist, Aubree Thomas, Keairah Hanks, and Angie Noey.    Honorary pallbearers will be Randal Masters, Rainey Bennett, Jerry Huckeba, Marcus Hanna, Josh Lenamond, and Ronald Lee. Betty was born February 1, 1925 to William Chester Pollard and Ona Cecile Sanders Pollard in Hubbard, where she grew up.    Betty Jo was united in marriage with Fred P. Masters on July 8, 1944 in Mexia and they moved to Shiloh.  After they later moved to Thornton, that was their home the rest of their lives.  Betty worked at the Mexia State School, where she retired in 1985 after ten years.  She and Fred enjoyed many happy years together after they retired.     Betty was first and most important, a devoted wife, housewife, mother and grandmother who considered her most important job in life to be taking care of her family.   That included putting a hot meal on the table and welcoming everyone who graced her doorstep, with the friends of her kids always being welcome.   She taught her family the meaning of hard work and appreciation of life.    She never waivered from her devotion to the family for her entire life.  She and Fred provided a home that gathered all the kids and grandkids tightly together in love and loyalty to each other.  As the family grew in number through the years, they had to rent a building to all get together.  The kids all loved to be with their parents as much as Betty and Fred loved having them together.  Even during the last days of her life, some of the youngest of the grandchildren had to be in bed cuddled up with G-Maw. Betty and Fred had spent many enjoyable trips with the family at the river camping and fishing, and also enjoyed, camping, fishing and just hanging out with their good friends, Jimmy and Joyce Rucker from Houston.  Betty was a member of the Central Baptist Church of Thornton and a true example of a Christian woman.   She was a happy person, always perfectly groomed, and a picture of strength and dignity.   Betty was the strongest in her times of loss, not letting her grief show.  One example of putting others first was when she would not let her granddaughter change her wedding date that was scheduled for a few days after the burial of her husband Fred. This granddaughter, Andrea, expressed her thoughts, with which all the family agrees:  “All the love and thanks in the world could never be enough for this woman who devoted her life to serving and taking care of others first.  She was perfect to us by being an amazing example of a strong, graceful, dignified Christian woman, and we will be forever grateful for her life and the love she showed us.” Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred P. Masters (2013); sons, Larry Masters, Gary Fred Masters, and Chesley Masters; granddaughter, Tina Lynn Masters, and great grandson, Bradley Reed Noey. She is survived by 103 total immediate family members, which includes four children and their spouses: Mason and Debra Masters of Mexia, Mike and Debbie Masters of Thornton, Dianne Masters and Scarlett Toliver of Thornton, and Debbie and Dennis Minchew of Thornton;  21 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren, and she loved each and every one.