John Alan Masters

John Alan Masters passed away on Tuesday, September 21, 2011. He was 84. John was born September 20, 1927 in Shenandoah, Iowa. He graduated from Yale University in 1948 and achieved a M.Sc. in Geology from the University of Colorado in 1951. He worked two years with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, twenty years with Kerr-McGee Corporation, and twenty-one years as President of Canadian Hunter Exploration, Ltd. John was one of the last great oilmen; he never retired.

He dedicated his life to the pursuit of the hidden treasures of the earth. In 1955, John discovered Ambrosia Lake which was, at the time, the largest uranium deposit in the world. He also was responsible for the discovery of important oil fields in Arizona and the Gulf of Mexico. In 1976, he led Canadian Hunter to the discovery of Elmworth, the largest gas field in Canada. For his contributions to science, John was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the first ever Stanley E. Slipper Award of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists for outstanding petroleum exploration, and the Outstanding Explorer Award in 2009 from the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.

While John achieved much, he loved more.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Lenora, and his children Chuck, Barbara, Robbie, and Jimmy;

Preceded in death by his beloved son, Alan.

He was an avid outdoorsman, most alive skiing in the mountains or captaining a sailboat. #160;

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011 at the New Covenant Christian Church, 77 Perry Park Avenue, Larkspur, CO. Interment will be in Bear Canon Cemetery at Sediala, CO. There will be no public visitation at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Kanakuk Kamps, 1353 Lakeshore Drive, Branson, MO 65616.

Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel, Castle Rock, CO.