Mary Soto

Mary Catherine passed away peacefully at her home in Gary, Indiana on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 surrounded by loving members of her family following an extended illness.

Mary Catherine, the oldest daughter of Edwin Henry Masterson and Irene Cecilia (Van Camp) Masterson was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 1, 1940. She was named after her great aunt, Mary Catherine Masterson, who died in 1893 in her infancy. Mary was much loved by her grandfather, Luke Leo Masterson because she was named after his infant sister and was the first female born into the Masterson Family that lived past the age of 2 in nearly 69 years. Mary moved with her family to Davenport at the age of five and attended St. Alphonsus Grade School. She went on to the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) for High School where she graduated in the last graduating class from ICA of 1958. She then attended one semester at Marycrest College in the fall of 1959.

During her high school years, Mary worked for her father Edwin, who owned and operated Harvest Gold Bakery at 119 Division St in Davenport, from 1948 until it closed in late 1959. Mary worked for the Morning Democrat and Times after High School as an obituary writer for a time before going to work for the telephone company in Davenport, Rock Island, Illinois and later in Gary, Indiana, where she progressed from Telephone Operator to Frame Dame and wiring technician and computer systems. She retired from AT&T in 1992 after 27 years of service. Mary was an avid animal lover and started her own business, Sunshine Lhasas of Gary, Indiana, breeding and raising several generations of Lhasa Apso Dogs which she entered into dog show competitions. She won many Champion Lhasa Best in Show competitions. Her dogs were the love of her life. Mary and her Sunshine Lhasas were featured in a book entitled "The Lhasa Apso" by Anna Katherine Nicholas (1989).

Mary married Jose Soto in June 1961 at St. Alphonsus - they later divorced in 1976.

Mary is survived by her devoted son, Joseph Anthony Soto of Gary, Indiana, who was her primary care giver; her siblings: Robert L. (Sandy) of Galesburg, Illinois; Col. Joseph A. Masterson, USA Retired (Antoinette) of Crestview, Florida; LCDR James G. Masterson, USN Retired of Lexington Park, Maryland; Dorothy L. Votroubek of Davenport, Iowa; Stephen L. Masterson of Donahue, Iowa; Irene C. Cepican (James L.), Bettendorf, Iowa; Anne T. Masterson of Snohomish, Washington.; step-brother, Chester D. Masterson (Shirley) of Fenton, Illinois, sister-in-law, Maryetta (Leahy) Masterson of Austin, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved grandfather Luke, her parents, Edwin and Irene, her brothers Edward F. Masterson and John A. Masterson, brother-in-law Robert O. Votroubek, step-mother Elda (LaFeber) Masterson, step-brother Bruce A. Masterson and the entire generation of her Van Camp aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Davenport, IA.

Funeral Services arranged by Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home will take place on Thursday, 15 February 2018 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church with visitation at 10:00 AM, followed by Mass at 11:00. Burial will follow at Holy Family Cemetery.

Visitation

Thursday February 15, 2018 , 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church

Mass of Christian Burial

Thursday February 15, 2018 , 11:00 AM at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church

Burial

Thursday February 15, 2018 at Holy Family Cemetery