Eugene Masters died in his home, a former general store, in March 2015 in Valley View, Kentucky. He was 86.
Mr. Masters was born on December 6, 1928 in Millon, Kentucky 1 to his parent, Esther Masters, 2 and worked as a clerk in Fayette County before operating the Valley View General Store.
Mr. Masters was the focus of an article in February. Many years ago, I had stopped by and peeked in through the general store’s many front windows and was surprised about how much of its interior remained intact. I could only remiss about those “old days” of when it was an active and bustling store, with its iconic white wood clapboard siding, its slender front porch, and perch high above the road. In the summer of 2014, I paid a revisit and met Eugene Masters. We had small talk relating mostly to the old store and days gone by, but I was not expecting that this would be the last time I would meet this fascinating person.
Arrangements were handled by Combs, Parsons & Collins Funeral Home in Richmond.
Sources
- Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Birth Index, 1911-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006.
- Year: 1940; Census Place: Madison, Kentucky; Roll: T627_1337; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 76-27.
I believe the store might have been built and ran by Paul DavisThe store was owned and ran by Fred and Martha Perkins in the 60’s and early 70’s. Until Fred became ill and they sold out and moved to town. It was later owned/operated by Clarence Rhodus followed by Kirby Rhodus and his wife Sue Rhodus. Sue’s sister and brother in law (Melissa and Ivan Isaacs) helped run the store after Kirby’s death. Gene Masters bought the store building and lived in it but he never operated the store. Gene was a Korean War Veteran. He drove a tank in the war. He was notable muscian. The Richmond Register did an article on him years ago. I believe he even had small parts in a couple of western movies.
Eugene Masters was my uncle on my father’s size, he was a notable musician and song writer. He played with several bands on the Louisiana Hayride and composed a song, called “Dirty Dishes Blues.”
Gene lived with, and was a caregiver for my grandmother until she passed away. That was in the 1980’s and in Bluffton, Indiana. Later, he left Bluffton and we lost track of him.
Prayers to his family and friends. God bless.