Peggy Ruth Masters, 90, of Garland, TX passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 5, 2023. Born August 7, 1932, in Commerce TX, Peggy was the daughter of the late Walter Franklin Masters and Elma Thomas Masters.  In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her brother, Walter Franklin Masters, Jr.  Peggy graduated high school in Commerce, TX and graduated from East Texas State University in 1953 and earned a Master's Degree in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1961.

Peggy loved the outdoors and her native Texas.  In her early years she worked as a camp counselor with the Girl Scouts of America and at Baptist assemblies in Ridgecrest, North Carolina and Glorieta, New Mexico. Peggy loved to travel and hike and throughout her lifetime visited most of the states in the US. She especially enjoyed visiting the Southwest and the New England states.

During Peggy's career she worked to promote the physical and spiritual health of females of all ages.   Starting in 1961, she worked as a Student Minister at the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Nashville, TN. She coached basketball as well as planned retreats and other events to assist the female nursing students to consider ways to use their faith to serve their patients and others that they would encounter in life.  Peggy moved from Nashville, TN to Tuscaloosa, AL in 1967 to serve as the Associate Baptist Student Minster at the University of Alabama. Again, she used her skills to encourage spiritual growth as well as intellectual growth among undergraduate and graduate students.

After leaving student ministry in 1974, Peggy began working statewide with the Baptist Women's Missionary Program, WMU, first for the state of Alabama and then, starting in 1977, for the Pennsylvania /South Jersey Baptist Convention Women's Missionary Union. As the Director of WMU/Church and Community Ministries, her ministry in Penn/NJ involved planning and implementing statewide events that helped encourage spiritual growth and missional interest in females of all ages.  She retired in 1993 from ministering to the needs of women interested in mission activities to return home to Garland, TX to care for her ailing mother. Shortly after her move to Garland, she joined First Baptist Church of Garland and began teaching Senior Women's Sunday School.  She also volunteered to teach Wednesday evening services at several assisted living facilities in town and, of course, coaching kid's basketball.  Walking the track at the gym in the McDonald Center was something she never forgot.  She was a member of The Joy Class of FBCG.

Peggy is survived by two nieces and a nephew:  Michelle Masters/ Kelly Masters and Walt Masters III all of St. Louis MO, along with a whole bunch of first cousins.

Peggy greatly influenced the lives of many young people over the years. She is survived by several close friends from her seminary and student ministry years.   Those friends include Nancy Dill of Anacortes WA / Dr. Gaynor Yancey and Ms. Grady Cox of Waco, TX / Don and Judy Campbell of Murfreesboro TN.

Her family and friends would also like to express their thanks and gratitude to Susan Romanyak who cared for Peggy like a sister during Peggy's last months.  Also, they want to thank Betty Johnson of the Joy Class and the staff at Abba Care Assisted Living and the nurses and aides of Three Oaks Hospice for their attention and kindness toward Peggy.

Services will be held at Williams Funeral Home, 1600 N. Garland Avenue, Garland TX at 10:30 am on January 13 ^, 2023, with Dr. Gaynor Yancey officiating.  Lunch will follow at First Baptist Church Garland / 801 W Avenue D / Garland TX 75040.  Donations in memory of Peggy can be made to The Girl Scouts of America, St. Jude Hospital, the WMU Foundation or your local animal rescue.