Obituary

Julia Masten, 94, passed away Oct. 10, 2009, in Lubbock. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at First Baptist Church Chapel in Plainview with Dr. Travis Hart officiating. Interment will follow at Plainview Memorial Park under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Masten was born Oct. 11, 1914, to Arthur Bosworth and Mae (Neugent) Tarwater in Albany, N.Y. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Texas at Austin. She married J.B. Masten Jr. on Dec. 26, 1937. They were married for nearly 60 years. Julia worked for many years at First Baptist Church in Plainview. She served as financial secretary for pastors Dr. Harlan Harris and Dr. Roy McClung from 1958-64, and as administrative assistant for pastors Dr. Tim Trammell and Dr. Carlos McLeod from 1964-81, retiring in January 1982. She was an active member, Sunday school teacher and choir member of First Baptist for more than 60 years. Her outlook on life demonstrated the "can do" pioneering spirit typical of early West Texans, and she enjoyed working all types of puzzles, especially crosswords. She had a unique ability to quietly establish servant-leadership relationships with people and loving relationships with animals, especially dogs. Julia was preceded in death by her husband, J.B. Masten Jr., on March 4, 1997, and a sister, Ruth (Tarwater) Belk. She is survived by her sons, Dr. Larry Bruce Masten and his wife, Dr. Yondell Masten, of Abernathy and Billy Reese Masten and his wife, Sarah, of Shallowater; her grandchildren, Anna Jackson, Ellen Tidwell, Carole Harbison, Dr. Gordon Masten, Larry Bryan Masten, Dr. John Masten and Lari Masten; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials in Julia's name may be made to the choir, Sunday school or building fund of First Baptist Church in Plainview, or the Alzheimer's Association , in honor of her husband.