Charles William Masner

Charles William Masner was born on November 29, 1929 in Cave City, Arkansas, the third son of Tint O. and Elvie Masner. He died on March 8, 2019 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The cause of death was complications of Alzheimer’s.

Charles attended school in Cave City, and obtained a G.E.D. He also attended Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas, and later graduated from National Banking School in Madison, Wisconsin. As a boy he worked as a film projectionist for theaters in Arkansas, as well as traveling the country helping with the harvesting of crops, and whatever other work he could find. His experience as a film projectionist gave him the ability to be a film projectionist for Army training films during World War II. He enlisted in the Army under age, under the authority of his father’s signature.

On June 4, 1948, he married Ella Clotene Williams. Four sons were born of this marriage: Charles Michael, Stephen Clay (wife Miriam), Edward Lynn, and Jeffrey Phillip (wife Kelly).

Charles worked as a theater manager for Commonwealth Theaters until 1958, when he went to work as a teller for Citizen’s National Bank and Trust Company in Anthony, Kansas. Charles eventually became the president and principal stockholder of the bank. In 2002 the bank was sold and is now Kanza Bank.

The bank was Charles’s day job. After he left a day’s work at the bank he went to work remodeling old houses he had bought for resale. He also became a wheat farmer and cattleman. And Charles subsequently owned banks in Arkansas, and controlling interest in a bank in Colorado. Charles was a businessman and an entrepreneur. He was engaged in many business enterprises during his life. After the bank sold he began an investment firm-Plains Investment and Credit Corporation.

Charles was also on the board of trustees and a deacon for the First Baptist Church in Anthony. He served on the school board and helped shepherd the transition from Anthony High School to Chaparral High School.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brothers, Junior, Glenn, Edward, and Jimmie. In addition to his wife and four sons, and their respective spouses, he is survived by his grandson, Alan Daniel (wife Katy), and his great grandsons, Nathan Alan and Alan Daniel Jr. He is survived by his brother, Neil (wife Shirley), and his brother, Tommie (wife Floy) and nieces and nephews and their children.

Charles began his life in hard times, and those hard times were part of him until the day he died. He had done his best, through hard work, intelligence, and luck, and with the help of his partner of seventy years, Ella Clotene, to build a life where there would be no hard times for his children. Charles would prefer to still be working, but at least now, for him, hard times will come again no more.

Graveside services will be held Monday, March 11, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Maxville Cemetery located north of Cave City with Bro. Ron Canard officiating. Arrangements by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.

Honorary pallbearers are Charles Michael Masner, Stephen Clay Masner, Edward Lynn Masner, Jeffrey Phillip Masner, Tommie Masner and Neil Masner.

In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.