Obituary: William "Bill" Charles Masterson

June 13, 1941 to November 11, 2010

William "Bill" Charles Masterson, a larger than life character, passed away but his family and friends will keep his memory alive for all future family generations to come.

It is without a doubt that his many close friends will do the same.

Bill, 69, passed away at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho, on Veteran's Day after battling an illness.

Bill was a beautiful young boy, born on June 13, 1941 in the San Francisco Bay area, who grew up into a handsome charismatic man. He could make people laugh even when things were at their most serious.

An Air Force brat, Bill traveled Europe and graduated high school in Germany. He returned to the states and attended college at Sacramento State.

He moved to Reno, met his wife Teresa Vauk and started his own business which he ran for years. The couple raised three children in Carson City.

Upon retirement Bill and his wife moved to Nampa, Idaho, where he lived until his passing. He could often be seen in his recliner in his office chatting on the phone to family and friends for hours, talking about everything under the sun, keeping his audience captivated with conversation to the point no one wanted to hang up. He loved to joke and laugh about all sorts of subjects.

When Bill wasn't on the phone he was heavy into watching his football, baseball and sports games. He would get as excited as the crowd right from his easy chair. In particular Bill loved his hometown team the San Francisco Giants and for years and years watched them in hopes they would make the World Series and win the pennant. The entire family believes the Giants won the World Series this year for him. Bill also enjoyed going to the horse races and having the grandkids over for Sunday dinners.

Bill is loved dearly by his family. We will treasure all the valuable conversations we had with him, all the while chewing on his signature toothpick The funny moments that made us each laugh until our stomachs hurt, we will pass those stories down for ages to come.

Bill was a wonderful husband; father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle and friend. He is dearly missed and we who had him in our lives are eternally blessed with hilarious memories of his wit, charm and life lessons.

Bill is survived by his wife of 36 years, Teresa Masterson of Nampa; daughter Julie Golder and husband Tracy Golder of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; son William F. Masterson and his wife Nicolette Masterson, and youngest son Michael Masterson all of Nampa.

Bill is also survived by his parents Barbara and Fred Masterson of Reno; sister Cheryl Huett and her husband Forest, and nephews Derek Goodwin and Mitchell Huett all of Reno; a sister Elayne Marman and her husband Kent, and niece Lexi Marman all of Mission Viejo, Calif.; and his sister Lynne Kearny and her husband Drew of Aptos, Calif.; and his grandchildren Lacey and Gary Stratton, Billy and Natalie Masterson and Ryshel, Bryan and Trinity Golder.

And about Bill's life and the people he touched ... don't cry because Bill's life is over, smile because his life happened.

Rosary vigil will be held at 7p.m., Wednesday, Nov.17 at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel located at 415 12th Ave S, Nampa ID 83651. Funeral mass will be celebrated at noon on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 at St. Paul's Catholic Church located at 1515 8th St S, Nampa, ID 83651. An online guest book may be signed at www.nampafuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Vincent food bank at1515 8th St. South Nampa, ID 83651.