Charles T. Masterson

Chaplin Charles T. (Moose) Masterson slipped quietly away to meet his Lord on May 13, 2013, at Good Friends Assisted Living Home on Lazy Mountain near Palmer.

Charles was born July 9 1933, in Tower City, Penn., to Harold and Charlotte (Miles) Masterson. He spent some of his younger days in and around the town of Catasauqua, Penn. It was while he was still in his teens that classmates conferred upon him the nickname “Moose” as he stood 4’7’’ and weighed 79 pounds. The moniker stuck.

He came to know the Lord during those same years and went on to Prairie Bible College. In 1947 found Charles on a ship bound for Alaska. He later worked for the state of Alaska driving a van for the Pioneer’s Home. Charles was an ordained minister and was affiliated with the Salvation Army for several years. There, he was introduced to hospital, nursing home, and eventually prison ministry. Charles was also Veterans Administration volunteer representative for the Army, visiting both Providence Extended Care and Alaska Regional Hospital on a biweekly circuit.

For a while Charles was also an on air radio personality on a local radio station and was a licensed HAM operator. For several years he has been active in the state of Alaska’s Chaplaincy program and was deeply respected and honored by inmates and correctional officers alike in many of the correctional facilities. They too, referred to him as “Moose,” a term of respect and endearment. Of his work in the prisons, he commented, “We are not here to think about their crimes, but how to direct them to Jesus.” Charles was always good with one line retorts, observances, and breaking out his harmonica. He enjoyed Alaska, but he loved its people more. In his later years, Charles was an elder and prison ministry coordinator for Sunny Knik Chapel. He was a confirmed bachelor all his life.

Surviving are cousins Alfred and Karen Miles of Massachusetts and an innumerable amount of friends, associates and family of God.

Services for Charles, a.k.a. Chaplin “Moose,” are at 3 p.m., May 18 at Sunny Knik Chapel, Mile 14, Knik-Goose Bay Road. Memorial donations may be made to Alaska Prison Ministries or the Sunny Knik Chapel Building Fund.