Angeline “Boots” Emma Masters was born at Hospital Notre Dame De Lourdes on May 7th, 1941 to Raymond Oliver and Emma Sallie Hale in Baguio, Philippines. They fondly nicknamed her “Bootsie”. She was the third of four children; Walter “Bud”, Shirley “Honey”, and Richard “Dick”. They lived in a home her father built in Antamok, where her father was a diesel engineer for the local mine. When Bootsie was just a young child, the Japanese Government put her family in an internment camp after Japan invaded and took over the Philippine Islands during WWII. Her mother had dropped her off with a family member, to keep her out of the prison camp, but Bootsie was not eating and became sickly. Because Bootsie’s dad had become useful to the Japanese, wiring and getting electricity supplied to the camp, they allowed him to leave the prison and go retrieve her and bring her back to her mother. Bootsie spent over 37 months imprisoned, and she became even more malnourished and forever traumatized by the experience, not wanting her mother out of her sight.

After their liberation, her family, having lost everything, left the Philippines and sailed to the USA for a better life, landing in San Francisco. But, being Asian after the war, her father had a difficult time getting work. They moved all the way to Texas for a bit to be near family, at one point living in an old railroad car with her parents working odd jobs, but returned to San Diego CA, before deciding to return to the Philippines.

Once back in the Philippines, they took up residence in an Army tent until her father could build them a new home. Bootsie started school at a convent, but struggled being confined in the dark dreary building, so the nuns let her stay outside in the hall until she settled in. This took a lot longer than anyone thought. Bootsie recalled on many occasions remembering the bright white wing shaped habits the nuns wore and how nice and soft spoken they were to her. Her parents worked hard to rebuild careers and her Dad built a home for their family. Bootie remembered sweeping with brooms made out of palm husks and polishing the wood floors by sliding her feet around with coconut husks, happily working alongside the hired help.

A few years later, Bootsie’s mom pressured her father to return to the states, so her kids could get a better education, and have more opportunities for success. Landing once again in San Francisco, they settled in the suburbs of Daly City. Bootsie loved the city life, and enjoyed her grandmother and other family members living close. Bootsie loved to clean, and would often help sweep the porch and clean at an elderly neighbor’s home across the street. She fell in love with Audrey Hepburn, and fashioned her style after the sophisticated actress. Wearing scarves and button sweaters.

One day, Boots chased a ball into the street and was struck by a car. The car had been in a wreck before, so the bumper was bent up and the sharp edge nearly severed her leg, all that was connected was the fat and skin at the back of her calf. One of her memories from that accident was how she thought the firefighters that responded and held her leg together on the way to the hospital were really cute. Bootsie spent a long time in a full leg cast. Although she could predict the cold weather coming by pain where her injury was when she got older, she really did not have any lasting issues with her leg after it healed. She said she felt very lucky that the bumper was so sharp, because it was a clean cut and break, so didn’t have too bad of a scar.

When Bootsie was entering highschool, now going by her middle name, “Emma” to friends, her parents bought land outside the quaint college town of Davis, CA and before her father had finished building their new home, they moved into it. A beautiful home on some acreage bordering a creek, out in the country among walnut orchards and neighboring horses and sheep. Bootsie did not adjust well to the country. She missed her friends in the bay area and hated how dirty and dusty everything got, and all the bugs in the country. Bootsie realized she had a need for cleanliness and order, and was extremely claustrophobic, probably from her time in the POW camp. Her father made sure to finish her room first to help with her stress.

During highschool in Davis, Bootsie made new friends. The ones she met while working at the local movie theatre, she would keep in contact with for the rest of their lives. One friend, Patsie, even became family, after falling in love and marrying Bootsie’s older brother, Bud. Bootsie graduated in the class of 1960. After High School, Bootsie moved into an apartment with two of her closest friends, in Sacramento and went to Business School. She got a job as a nanny and took great care of the children. She even cleaned her client’s home so meticulously while there, that they begged her not to quit, even offering double pay for her to stay, when she gave notice to go work for the United Way after finishing school. One memory Boots had with her girlfriends was when they went up to Monte Rio to her parent’s summer home. After returning from the show in town, the mountain was on fire. The firefighters allowed them to go get their things, but with the impending fire, they ordered them to return within 10 minutes. Bootsie ran in and hurriedly collected her suitcase, and she would laugh when she explained that in her panic to decide what else to grab, she impulsively snatched up the toaster. The fire destroyed their beautiful home nestled in the pine trees on the steep mountain shortly after.

One night her best friend was sad, so Bootsie canceled a planned date, and she and her friend went out to a dance venue attached to a bowling alley to cheer her friend up. While there, Bootsie met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Masters, when he asked her to dance, and their love story began. Bootsie normally didn’t spend time chatting with fellas she danced with, but this night she found herself wanting to get to know this handsome and charming man. Dick called her the very next day, and they began to date.

Not having much money, Boots and Dick went on simple dates, going for walks, to the zoo, or having picnics in the park. They spent hours and hours on the phone talking when not physically together. Soon after meeting, Boots knew he was the one and told her parents she was in love. The test to see if Dick was a keeper was the day she brought him home to meet the family, which meant the WHOLE family. Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, ect. were all there for a weekend gathering full of loud discussions, laughter and dancing, lots of food, and multiple tables of mahjong. This was a usual gathering that would last all weekend at the Ray and Emma Hale house, as family was everything. Dick, coming in uniform straight from work, was met at the door by several aunties who instantly began doting over him, and by the evening's end, he had impressed Boot’s father and mother, and won the family over.

Dick and Boots only dated a short time, when Dick proposed. But, as luck would have it, Dick got orders for a new assignment right after Boots said “yes”. Boot’s father told her before he walked her down the aisle on her wedding day, “Well, you got your blond haired, blue-eyed man”. They had a beautiful wedding on July 27th, 1963, and then were off to a new life together at Grand Forks Air Force Base, in North Dakota.

The California girl had a startling introduction when she got out of the car upon arrival in North Dakota, and instantly felt like she couldn’t breath. Dick being from Cleveland Ohio and used to cold air, told her “Oh, it’s just your nose hairs freezing up, you’ll be fine”. Although bitter cold there, they met some amazing friends and had all their children while stationed in North Dakota. First came Christine “Cris” in 1964, then their son, Richard, Jr in 1965 (who tragically passed from SIDS at a few months old, leaving Boots with a forever fear of her kids/grandkids dying when they were young, and would panic easily if they put too much food in their mouth or stumbled), and then had their last child, Alicia, in 1967.

When the Vietnam War broke out, Dick got orders to deploy. He quickly moved Boots and their girls back to Davis, to be closer to family should he be killed in action. It was great to have family close, but it was hard times, filled with worry. Boots went to work in Davis to fill the void, and would write to Dick and send audio cassette tapes of her and the girls while he was gone. She missed her husband dearly, and the days ticked by so slowly. Boots was so relieved when Dick made it back to her and his girls, and they were both very glad to close that chapter of their lives for good.

Dick and Boots, now back together, continued on with their lives, and moved on to another base after Dick received new orders. Through the years, they went to different assignments, Boots settled into military life easily, and loved every place they lived, meeting life long friends, even enjoyed their years overseas in England, but were so happy to return back to the USA. Boots loved her country, her military life, and was a true patriot.

Boot’s favorite assignment was in Idaho, after returning from England, as they had purchased a Motorhome. Boots and Dick spent lots of time camping alongside the Boise and Snake Rivers with their kids and friends, and Boots enjoyed sitting in a lawn chair, dipping her feet in the freezing glacier waters, then warming them on the rocks in the sun, on the banks of some of her favorite places on earth, Redfish and Stanley lake. She loved the crisp clean air and looking up through the pine trees at the beautiful blue sky. It was truly heaven on earth.

Although Boots and Dick had planned to retire in San Antonio near close friends, their last and final assignment was to Bergstum AFB, in Austin TX, where Dick retired as a Lt. Colonel. They fell in love with Austin and decided to stay in the area, since their youngest was still in High School. They had purchased a new home when Dick retired, and lived there for the remainder of their lives. The home backed up to a greenbelt, and Boots spent countless hours watching the peaceful natural area from her kitchen table. It was her sanctuary that she enjoyed every day.

Once in Austin, Boots went back to work, and gained more great friends at each job she worked. Boots became good friends with one boss in particular, Cindy, who was much younger than her. Through the years, they stayed in contact, and Boots grew to love and care for her as if she was one of her own children. It was a special bond.

After retiring, Boots began bowling with the Officers’ wives’ club, and met some amazing gals. Their friendships brought their husbands into the mix and they went on trips together, and Boots orchestrated gatherings out for all the couples often. What fun times they had together. When any family or friends visited, Boots always showed them the best time in Austin. Boots would plan their days with activities, sightseeing and dinners out. She loved to entertain, and was a wonderful event planner. Those occasions were some of Boot’s favorite memories.

Boots and Dick did their job of spoiling their 3 grandchildren, Tim, Richard, and Angeline (yes, two of them were named after Boots and Dick) the children of their youngest daughter, Alicia and her husband David, and got so much enjoyment from attending their school and life events, celebrating birthdays, their accomplishments, and every holiday with the whole family together. Boots always planned special birthday dinners for her kids and grandkids, and everyone who came got gifts. Boots loved to give, she shopped regularly to supply clothes and necessities for the growing grandkids, and actually did well to get stuff they liked. Boot’s grandkids always would say she was a hip and stylish Nana, and all their friends loved her dearly.

Boots loved it when their daughter Cris and her husband Pete, who lived out of state, came home for visits. Both her and Dick enjoyed when they brought their dogs with them, as they missed their beloved pet, Chelsea. When not visiting, Boots and Cris spoke weekly on the phone, talking, debating, and laughing. Boots really cherished those calls.

Wherever they were stationed, and after retirement, Boots and Dick often traveled home to Davis, staying in her parent’s home her father built, where her youngest brother now lives. She loved her California family. They also would go back to Ohio to visit Dick’s Mom and Dad, in the home that Dick designed and oversaw the build. They would travel by motorhome and made many trips back and forth across the US with and without their girls, taking the long way and seeing the sights outlined in their Good Sam’s Travel Guide book.

Boots kept in touch with so many people she came to love, and always remembered people who were special to her, sending cards and gifts. She made friends everywhere she went, from the doctor’s office staff, to her hairdresser, she touched many lives with her love and generosity. For many years she addressed over 100 Christmas cards each holiday season, and kept up with birthdays and other special occasions for so many people, she kept Dick busy going to the post office.

Once they got their travel bug out of their system, Boots and Dick settled into a routine. They loved to go to lunch and the matinee every Friday. They began following a singer, Laura Benedict, who sang lounge music with a pianist at a local hotel. They would go eat dinner at the hotel restaurant then spend the evening slow dancing to Laura’s beautiful love songs. Laura said Dick would always request “Baby, I’m yours”. Of course they got to know her, and were so excited when she got married and started a family. When Laura became a member of a trio “Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes” Boots and Dick loved to go watch their shows. They were loyal fans for many years.

Dick and Boots spent 60 wonderful years together, madly in love, and were rarely ever apart as they aged. As they slowed down, they grew content to stay home and enjoy just being together. They would order DVDs of movies and shows from a catalog and would stay up until all hours of the night talking and reminiscing about the wonderful life they had, and how proud they were of their kids and grandkids. Their daughter, Alicia, came every couple of days to visit, most times during the day, spent in the kitchen looking out at the birds and wildlife, talking about everything and enjoying each other’s company. Some days Alicia came later in the afternoon and stayed through dinner. She and her husband came for a movie night weekly, and would often stay until late at night. Boots loved it when the Grandkids came. She had goodies and enjoyed hearing what they were up to. As the grand kids got older and were now in college and starting careers, they came less often, but Boots cherished every minute with them when they would stop by for a visit. She was so proud of them, and loved them so much. Boots felt extremely lucky to have them in Austin with her, and that she lived long enough to see them grow up to become wonderful adults, and even meet and grow to love her grandson Richard’s fiance, Allison.

Boots often talked about how she hoped to live long enough to see her girls enjoy traveling after retirement, and her grandkids graduate from college, start their careers, get married, and start a family. Unfortunately, she began having breathing problems from scoliosis. Her ribcage which had shifted into her as she twisted had begun impeding her taking a deep breath. Although she was on no medications, was quite healthy and full of life, her breathing issues caused her to lose weight and retain fluid in her lungs. Boots tried to not let it slow her down, but in the last year she began to show signs of fatigue. Just after Christmas 2023, where she once again entertained, going out to celebrate birthdays and her grandson Richard’s college graduation, and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas holiday with her family, Boots got shingles and a cold that lingered despite a couple rounds of antibiotics. Her breathing began to get labored and she was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. She fought hard, but tragically, after 5 days in the hospital, succumbed to her illness.

Boots was so active in her family's lives, all the way up until the end, that it seems surreal that she is gone. There is quite a large hole left behind with her passing, and she is dearly missed. But, the family is comforted knowing she is up in heaven with her husband, her soul mate, Dick. Because he joined her in heaven 3 months after she passed.

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