July 31, 1955 - June 11, 2024
Bradenton, Florida - On June 11th, 2024 Mary Jean Masters entered the gates of heaven to join her husband Ben F. Masters. He welcomed her with a huge smile.
Mary Jean ("MJ") was born on July 31, 1955 in El Paso, Texas to Gerald and Diane Kropp. MJ was the oldest daughter and the second of nine children. She was a natural "big" sister. She embraced her role and quickly became the caretaker of our family.
MJ was a gifted athlete. She swam competitively and had such a beautiful swim stroke that it was hard not to notice her in the pool. Music came natural to MJ. Her skills on the piano were extraordinary. You could often find her in our family home in the living room playing the piano. Her hands were light as feathers as her fingers danced across the keys. She brought music into our home.
MJ found love early and embraced the opportunity to spend her life with Ben Masters. They were married on April 25, 1974 and started a 48 year journey as husband and wife.
It is no coincidence that MJ became an RN and spent her career taking care of people. During her extended nursing career, she spent over a decade as the managing nurse for the on-site health facility at Waste Management for the tri-county region. She established vision and hearing programs. Additionally, she took care of the day-to-day health needs of hundreds of workers. She helped rehabilitate all workers injured on the job. She also spent over two decades working in the emergency room at Manatee Memorial Hospital.
In July of 1992, MJ and Ben welcomed their daughter Marla to the world. Marla brought much joy to their lives. MJ made time to be an active volunteer during Marla's grade school years at St. Joesph's School. She said "yes" to every volunteer opportunity and she was not shy to fundraise to help the school that she also attended as a child.
MJ loved certain places and was quick to put return trips on her calendar. Her favorite journey was with Marla and Ben to Fort Wilderness at Disney World. It gave MJ immeasurable joy to watch Marla's eyes dance with wonder as she discovered the magic of Disney. Another journey that she shared with Ben for many years was to their cabin on the Kissimmee river where they spent many happy days fishing for largemouth bass. In their later years, MJ and Ben enjoyed cruising on Royal Caribbean's Jubilee of the sea. They were happy to remain on the boat at every stop.
Being with her family was always a priority. She loved spending time with her family. Her trip to the west coast with her brother David in 1981 began her love of adventures with her siblings. Her travels included trips to Japan, Hong Kong, Italy and Switzerland. Skiing in Colorado, watching the sunset on Anna Maria Island, or riding the tilt-a-wheel with her sisters in California, MJ was always happiest being with the ones she loved most her family.
In 2020, Covid changed MJ's life and she chose to retire from nursing to take care of her husband Ben full-time. She did not want to risk exposing him to COVID. In December of 2022, MJ lost Ben to illness. At the same time, she bravely fought and beat breast cancer. But her lighted dimmed without Ben by her side. Our love for MJ is cemented in our hearts and our memories of her will carry us forward.
MJ is survived by her daughter Marla Masters and her partner Travis, her siblings Tom (Kim), Cyndee (Tom), Linda (John), David (Vicki), Tim (Debbie), Rick (Patti), Steve (Beth) and Becky (Miguel). MJ is also survived by her sister-in-law Debbie (Mark).
We are grateful that MJ is reunited with Ben, so they can cheer for their beloved Florida Gators together.
A celebration of life will be announced later this year.
