Zerma Ann Masters, 94, of Gordonville passed away peacefully Friday, April 1, 2022, at the Chateau Girardeau Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

Zerma was able to live in her home until just a week prior to her move to Chateau. On the day of her passing, she woke up feeling well and was able to enjoy her favorite meal of fried chicken and coconut cream pie. She was also looking forward to watching the St. Louis Cardinals game later that day.

Zerma was born Jan. 14, 1928, in Cape Girardeau to Albert Louis and Hannah Helen Hargens Ahrens. She married Ora Freemon Masters on Nov. 6, 1948, in Arkansas. They had been married over 67 years, when Ora passed away Feb. 5, 2016.

Zerma was a graduate of Jackson Senior High School. She worked many years at businesses such as International Shoe, Thorngate Limited in Chaffee, Missouri, Walmart and Sam's Club in Cape Girardeau. She retired in 2011 at the age of 83 and always said she would have liked to continue working.

Zerma was a lifetime member of Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville. In her retirement, she enjoyed eating at IHOP in Cape Girardeau, completing word search puzzles, and watching vintage western movies.

Loving survivors include two children, Terry Wayne Masters of Jackson and Kathryn Susan (Bill) Peters of Burfordville; four grandchildren, Evan Masters of Benton, Missouri; Morgan (Blake) Reiminger of Gordonville; Jessica (Chad) Flannigan of McLeansboro, Illinois; and Reagan Peters of Burfordville; two great-grandchildren, Brielle and Beckett, and a third great-grandchild, Finley, anticipated very soon.

Also surviving is an older sister, Alberta Lou Gross of Egypt Mills, and Zerma's best friend and frequent caregiver, Tami Pitts, and her family of Gordonville.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Thomas Freemon "Tom" Masters; and two sisters, Genevieve Olive Roussel and Rosalie Melba Ahrens.

A private family graveside memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab of Zerma's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.