Laura Jean Willson Masters, age 97 of Fremont, passed away Friday, December 23, 2016 at her home following a lingering illness. Laura Jean was born on January 6, 1919 in Fremont to T.C. and Clio Pearl (Williams) Willson and graduated from Fremont High School in 1936. Laura Jean then attended and received her Bachelor's Degree as a Registered Dietician from Michigan State University in 1940. She later received her Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Laura Jean became the first Director of the WIC Program for District Health Department #10 and served in this capacity from age 60 until her retirement at the age of 80. She had also served on various mental health boards throughout West Michigan in the dietician areas.

Laura Jean had been active in the Girl Scouts of America and had served as the President of the Michigan Pine and Dunes Council; was an accomplished ballroom dancer and had competed and was a Gold Level 4 Medalist for the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and had received other top dance awards for her age group. Laura Jean was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and was Past Worthy Matron. She has been a long time member of the First Congregational Church in Fremont where she had served as Moderator and had served several terms as Moderator of the Grand West Association of United Church of Christ in Michigan.

Laura Jean is survived by her children, Diane Masters, M.D. of Pooler, Georgia; Jeff (Joan) Masters of Ann Arbor; Craig (Rilee) Thompson-Masters of Baldwin; Lorelie Masters (Jack Rose) of Washington, D.C.; Bruce (Toni) Masters of Hesperia; Patrice (Roger) VanderStelt of Twin Lake; 10 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; her sister, Joanne Meier of Gulf Breeze, Florida.

MEMORIAL SERVICES : Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 1pm at the First Congregational Church, 714 Hillcrest, Fremont, MI 49412. INTERMENT : First Congregational Church Memorial Gardens and Maple Grove Cemetery. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : Fremont Area Community Foundation for the Women and Girls Fund or First Congregational Church in Fremont. Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Masters family online at www.crandell.com.

Memorial Service

Thursday, December 29, 2016 1:00 PM

First Congregational Church 714 Hillcrest Ave Fremont, MI 49412