Susan Marie Masters

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Thursday, July 18th at Newcomer’s White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone. Family will welcome all to visit for story sharing and picture viewing from 3:00pm-4:30pm. Memorial Service begins at 4:30pm. A private ceremony for Inurnment of Ashes will be scheduled at a later date.

In addition to flowers, the family requests memorial contributions go to Children’s Mercy Hospital or Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care.

Susan was born on July 21, 1961, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was the middle child of Jim and Carolyn Whitaker, born after her sister (Laura) and before her brother (Tommy). The family lived in the Gladstone area where they enjoyed celebrating holidays, birthdays, and family time together.

Susan attended Winnetonka High School, where she met her husband and best friend, Jeff Masters. Their dating evolved into engagement and eventual marriage on September 21, 1984. They were happily married for nearly 40 years. Susan and Jeff were the proud parents of three children, Josh, Jimmy, and Nikki Masters.

Indeed, they were inseparable. It’s hard to say Susan without saying Susan and Jeff. They reveled in their time together as parents glowing over their three children’s baseball and football games, cheerleading and Little Mermaiding, tennis and basketball games, wrestling and soccer matches.

Susan’s professional life spanned the 1980’s at Business Men’s Assurance (BMA) Company of Kansas City where she worked in the reinsurance department. But her real career was raising three children in the 1990’s while Jeff traveled for work. Once her kids were old enough to be by themselves, Susan went back into the workforce only to end up as their lunch lady at Liberty Public School District.

One of her greatest joys was taking annual trips to St. Augustine, Florida with her family and friends. One of Susan and Jeff’s goals was to visit as many National Parks as possible. They ventured out to Redwood, Sequoia, Yellowstone, Black Hills, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Joshua Tree National Parks together while listening to classic rock on 101.1 The Fox, until the station faded away like their cares. Just as passionately as they played, they worked together; at H&R Block and for Riverhook in Bermuda at hardware stores.

After returning from their Bermuda adventure, they settled into their peaceful, dozen acre property in Excelsior Springs. They remodeled their entire house together and spent many hours on their back deck overlooking their beloved property.

Susan especially enjoyed her six grandchildren: Noah, Ziah, Scarlett, Cameron, Kate, and Joey. She had a blast driving them around her property on the four-wheeler and watching them all jump on her trampoline. It was her pleasure to watch Noah and Ziah skateboarding while Scarlett played with her new baby dolls. During her frequent visits to Omaha, Susan was Cam and Kate's #1 football, softball, soccer, and baseball fan always positioning herself to be first in line for their scheduled releases. Susan felt blessed to welcome her youngest grandchild, Joey, into the world; cuddling, feeding, and playing with him.

Susan so loved being a Wife, a Mom, and a Grandma. She adopted all her husband’s friends as her own including girls’ nights, Bunco, hosting family gatherings, and summers in St. Augustine, Florida.

Survivors include her sister, Laura DuBow (Norm); brother, Tommy Ware; son, Josh Masters (Jill); son, Jimmy Masters (Teresa); daughter, Nikki Roberts (Dave); mother-in-law Carol Masters; sister-in-law Jamie Masters and grandchildren, Noah, Ziah, and Scarlett Roberts, Cameron and Kate Masters, and Joey Masters