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Michael James Masters, age 75 of Monticello, went to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, February 9, 2026, at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, AR. He was born August 8, 1950, in Palestine, TX to the late James Albert Masters and Betty Jean Kirby Masters.
He was a retired boat builder and boat parts welder at Sea Ark Marine, United States Army Veteran and member of First Freewill Baptist Church. Mike was a hard-working welder that loved building boats. He also actually built the flagpole located at the intersection of Hwy. 425 and Hwy. 278 at Walgreens. He also loved helping others and his church any way he could. Mike was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding others. However, his greatest passion was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Masters; a sister, Charlotte Jean Masters; and his daughter, Rhonda Faye Brantley Sanderlin.
He is survived by two grandchildren, Kathryn Hunt and husband Chris Burnett of Monticello and Bo Sanderlin and wife Tara of Monticello; one brother, Kenneth Lee Masters and wife Ruth Ann of Georgia; two sisters, Michelle Escobedo and Patti Masters Sutherlin both of Houston, TX; and four great grandchildren, Abrey Hunt, Nicholas Hunt, Jr. “Bubba”, Zade Sanderlin and Mia Jo Sanderlin.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2026, at First Freewill Baptist Church with Bro. Justin Morphis officiating. There will be a visitation Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at First Freewill Baptist Church. Burial will be in Union Ridge Cemetery. You can sign Mike's guestbook registry here on his page.
He was a retired boat builder and boat parts welder at Sea Ark Marine, United States Army Veteran and member of First Freewill Baptist Church. Mike was a hard-working welder that loved building boats. He also actually built the flagpole located at the intersection of Hwy. 425 and Hwy. 278 at Walgreens. He also loved helping others and his church any way he could. Mike was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding others. However, his greatest passion was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Masters; a sister, Charlotte Jean Masters; and his daughter, Rhonda Faye Brantley Sanderlin.
He is survived by two grandchildren, Kathryn Hunt and husband Chris Burnett of Monticello and Bo Sanderlin and wife Tara of Monticello; one brother, Kenneth Lee Masters and wife Ruth Ann of Georgia; two sisters, Michelle Escobedo and Patti Masters Sutherlin both of Houston, TX; and four great grandchildren, Abrey Hunt, Nicholas Hunt, Jr. “Bubba”, Zade Sanderlin and Mia Jo Sanderlin.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2026, at First Freewill Baptist Church with Bro. Justin Morphis officiating. There will be a visitation Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at First Freewill Baptist Church. Burial will be in Union Ridge Cemetery. You can sign Mike's guestbook registry here on his page.