Dr. Chester Warren Masterson Sr. of Vicksburg died Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at River Region Medical Center. He was 79.

He was born Feb. 26, 1933, in Quitman County to Chester Lee Masterson and Laura Kate Cook Masterson.

Dr. Masterson graduated from Crowder High School, Northwest Mississippi Junior College and the University of Mississippi. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, cum laude 1960 graduate, and was a member of Phi Rho Sigma. He completed his internship at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis and his general surgery residency at Kennedy Veterans Hospital in Memphis and ENT-EENT Hospital at Tulane University at New Orleans. Dr. Masterson served in the U.S. Army with two years of service in Japan in the Medical Corps during the Korean Conflict.

Dr. Masterson had his first practice in Batesville for two years before moving to serve the Vicksburg community and surrounding areas for 31 years as a practicing otolaryngologist. He served as the 1998-1999 chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi State Medical Association, having served on that board for six years. He was past president of West Mississippi Medical Society, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat section of MSMA and the Mississippi Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Association.

He was a former trustee of the Columbia Vicksburg Medical Center and member of the Medical Staff Executive Committee of ParkView Regional Medical Center. He was a former member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, the Louisiana-Mississippi O&O Society and the Mississippi chapter of the American College of Surgeons. He served on the Board of Directors for Medical Access to Rural Care.

He had been a member of the Rotary Club since moving to Vicksburg in 1966, serving as president 1986-1987 and was a Paul Harris Fellow recipient. A longtime member of the Warren Central Viking A Club, he served as president 1976-1977. He served as a missionary doctor in Mexico, providing free clinics two summers. He was a member of the Free Masons of New Orleans for 49 years, volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 105 over 10 years and served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA. He served in the House of Representatives for two terms, 2000-2008, on numerous committees such as Public Health & Welfare, County Affairs, Insurance and Judiciary B. He played semi-pro baseball for the Memphis Chickasaws during his college years.

Dr. Masterson was a member of First Baptist Church of Vicksburg, where he served as chairman of the deacons and chairman of the Finance Committee and Executive Committee and taught youth Sunday school for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ellis Lee Masterson, and a sister, Patricia Grace Masterson Cook, both of Batesville.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Martha Ann Gordon Masterson; two sons and two daughters, Cathy Lynn Schultz of Denham Springs, La., Chester Warren Masterson Jr. of Collierville, Tenn., Cindy Busby (Eddie) of Vicksburg and Dr. Robert Calvin Masterson (Dana) of Vicksburg; grandchildren, Tracy Lynn Schultz Hood (Daniel) of Greenwell Springs, La., Robert Gregg Schultz and Stephen Blake Schultz of Denham Springs, Chester Warren Masterson III of Jackson, Taylor Tullos Masterson of Collierville, Paul Wade Brewer II, Lauren Nicole Brewer and Darin Keith Busby of Vicksburg, Joshua Gordon Masterson, Jonah Reed Masterson, Anna McKenzie Masterson, Olivia Kate Masterson and Sophie Grace Masterson of Vicksburg; brothers, William D. Masterson (Jan) of Alexandria, Va., Ronnie L. Masterson (Helen) of Batesville, Pritchard A. Masterson (Jo Ann) of Brandon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 23, 2012, at First Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight, June 22, 2012, at First Baptist Church and at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons: Joshua Masterson, Jonah Masterson, Gregg Schultz, Blake Schultz, Warren Masterson, Paul Wade Brewer and Darin Busby.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Chaney, J.W. Carter, Harry Woods, Ken Martin, Jesse Davenport and his Boaz Sunday school class.

Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village, P.O. Box 27, Clinton, MS 39060-0027; St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942; or to the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Boys and Girls Ranch, 4285 Beaver Dam Road, Lucedale, MS 39452.