Mary E. (Bradford) Masten, 78

MILFORD - Mary E. (Bradford) Masten of Milford died, after a long-fought illness, Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. She was 78.

Mrs. Masten was born in Accomack, Va.

She was a dedicated wife during her husband"s military years and a wonderful homemaker, and helped her husband during his commercial-fishing adventures. They owned the Hi-Way Bait and Tackle Store on Thompsonville Road for several years. She was employed with Arrow Safety, Georgetown, for several years.

Mrs. Masten served the Lord and enjoyed going to Cedar Neck United Methodist Church. She was a dedicated worker and volunteer, and had held most of the offices within the following organizations: Frederica Adult Center, Kent County 33rd District Democratic Club, Air Force Sergeants Association Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 2, Dover.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary E. Bradford Joseph and George T. Bradford; and her husband of 53 years, retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Howard L. Masten.

She is survived by a son and a daughter-in-law, Howard L. Jr. and Josephine Masten of Ellendale; a daughter, Dianne Burk of South Bowers; a brother and a sister-in-law, George T. Jr. and Marjorie Bradford of Dagsboro; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Anne and Leslie Stewart of Franklin, Ky., Carolina and Robert Hickman of Dagsboro and Barbara Lynch of Milford; a granddaughter who was her constant companion and caregiver, Amber Burk of Milford; three grandsons, Joseph Masten, and his wife, Beth, of Seaford, Buddy Lee Masten of Virginia and Robert E. Burk Jr. of South Bowers; two great-grandchildren of Seaford; a special friend, Debbie Russell of Seaford; and a host of other family and friends throughout the years.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 N.W. Front St., Milford, where friends may call one hour earlier.

Burial will be in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery South, Millsboro.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the J. Louis Blumberg Chapter, American Parkinson"s Disease Assn., 332 Gerard Ave., Elkins Park, PA 19027.