Sue Masters

Ursulla “Sue” Perry Masters, age 89, went home to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 13, 2016. A Celebration of Her Life will be held at 3:00pm, Monday, April 18, 2016 at Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler with visitation prior from 2:00-3:00pm. Pastor Sam DeVille, Flint Baptist Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Cathedral in the Pines in Tyler. Pallbearers will be John Masters, Carlton Cadenhead, Mike Ragan, Brent Thompson, Wyatt Thompson and Russell Armstrong.

Sue was born June 13, 1926 in Livingston, Montana to Leila and John Perry. She loved growing up in this Paradise Valley area in the shadows of the Absaroka Mountains near Yellowstone Park. When she was twelve, she gave her heart to Jesus while at church camp, and was baptized on an Easter Sunday. During high school she worked at F.W. Woolworth Company as a candy girl and floor walker and graduated in 1946 from Park County High School. After high school she worked as a telephone operator in Livingston.

William “Willie” Masters, of Tryon, Nebraska, met Sue in Montana. He saw her family picture and declared he had to meet her. They were married in 1947. A son, John William, and a daughter, Virginia Sue, were born in Livingston. The family moved to a ranch south of Tryon, then relocated to California. Daughters, Roberta Kae and Dorothy Marie were born in Los Angeles County. The family constantly moved from house to house and state to state — Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, California, Texas – in large and small cities, farms, national parks, beach towns, the Sandhills, and eventually the Pineywoods of East Texas. No matter where they moved or how far they roamed, Sue always made their house a home bringing fun and laughter to every adventure.

Sue’s artistic talents included drawing, painting, sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking and anything crafty. Her interest in cake decorating led her to the Edith Gates Cake Decorating School in southern California where she completed a two year course in 1956. From then on she worked in several bakeries in the Los Angeles area and later at Krispy Krust in North Platte, Nebraska. She won the 1973 Nebraska State Bakers Convention Grand Prize.

In 1973 Sue and Willie purchased a cake shop in Tyler. Not every person is fortunate enough to live their dream, but Sue did. She made that little bakery into a great success. Masters Cake Shop became known for elaborate cakes, especially portrait cakes on which she would draw a person’s picture using icing. Today a machine transfers a photo to a cake, but it takes true talent to do what she did. She was featured on the Eyes of Texas TV show in Houston for her portrait cakes. She also became known for her catering, wedding cakes and specialty cakes.

In September 1982, Sue and Willie retired and moved to Tryon where they enjoyed the quiet, small town life for 29 years. Having the post office on their property and seeing all who came to get mail was a highlight of their days. Sue was involved in church and community groups in McPherson County contributing her artistic talents and ideas. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 189 for many years.

Sue is survived by her four children: son John (Betsy) Masters, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, daughters Virginia Lester, of Tyler, Roberta (Carlton) Cadenhead, of Jacksonville and Dorothy (Mike) Ragan, of Bullard; her four grandchildren: Julie (Brent) Thompson, of Tyler, Katie Masters, of Washington, D.C., Liza Masters (Alan Goldich), of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Matthew (Cathryn) Ragan, of Seattle, Washington; her four great-grandchildren: Abigail Thompson, Wyatt Thompson, Artie Ragan, and Rya Goldmaster; one brother: John A. Perry, of Burlington, Iowa; one brother-in-law: Gene (Sheryl) Masters, of North Platte, Nebraska; two sisters-in-law Eunice Masters and Loretta Masters, both of North Platte, Nebraska; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie, her parents, three sisters and their spouses: Emma (Bud Bowers and 2nd husband, Pete Nelson), Mary and Bill Armstrong, and Leola and Richard Quesenberry; six brothers-in-law: Ben Masters, Arbor Masters (Marge), George Masters, Hollis Masters, Bob Masters, and Vic Masters (Virginia); and son-in-law, Von Lester.

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International or The Hospice of East Texas.