Terry Edward Massey

Visitation for Terry Edward Massey, 89, of Tyler, will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Following services, family will gather at Steven and Tiffany Phillips’ home in Noonday, Box 15777, CR1100; take the second right past the blue store. Terry went to be with our Lord in the evening hours of October 22, 2014 at ETMC in Tyler; shortly after sending his beloved wife, Burla, home because it would soon be dark. After over 67 years of marriage, he did not like her driving at dark. A loving friend came in to stay with him during the evening hours. He left this earth after a breathing treatment for COPD which he had battled for years. His heart was huge and he loved his children, grandchildren, and those special great grandchildren that he considered himself so fortunate to get to see. He had three children, six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. During his week and a half stay in the hospital, everyone came to see him. What a blessing to have his two eldest great-grandsons, Zack and Connor, stay with him in the hospital and make him laugh. God is good; our family is proof of that! Terry deeply loved his family, and when the grandchildren and then the great-grandchildren came along, he was elated that God allowed him the time to know each one. For most of his long career he worked for Hill Construction Company as a construction superintendent, first for Mr. Buddy Hill and then his son Don Hill. Terry and Don became and acted more like brothers than manager and employee. The Rose Show was always his project and it became a highlight of the year for him as well as our entire family. Once a Marine, always a Marine….as he said often. He served during WW II in the 5th Division of the Marines. He was in the 4th wave of the Marines that stormed Iwo Jima; had he been in the earlier waves, this obit would probably never have been written. He saw the flag raising and lost his best friend, but God allowed him to survive and come home to find the woman of his dreams and raise a family for which he was so proud. Often at family gatherings he was teased about ‘look at how many people you are responsible for being born’. He always smiled and said he was thankful. Terry was preceded in death by his parents Ida Alice Terry Massey and Levi Elvie Massey, brothers Clifford Travis Massey and Clyde T. Massey and sisters Mada Ruth Massey Moody and Carol Annett Massey Bizzell. Tragically he lost his only grandson, David Clint Massey in 2007, in an auto accident. He is survived by his brother John Lorin Massey and wife, Mary of Oregon, sister Verna Odell Massey Cromer of Honey Grove, Texas, and Elva Maxine Massey Bennett and husband James Thomas Bennett of Copperas Cove, Texas. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Burla Mae Gibson Massey, and his children: Barbara Ann Massey Perdue, husband Ronald Wayne Perdue; son, Terry Dwayne Massey, wife Debra Elaine Warren Massey; and son David Edward Massey all of Tyler. He is also survived by his five granddaughters: Terry Kristin (Kristi) Perdue Gewin and husband Kris Alan Gewin of Frisco, Texas; Tiffany Ann Perdue Phillips and husband Steven Robert Phillips, Stephany Len Perdue Wilson, Kimberly Elaine (Kim) Massey Walters and husband Mitchell Grant Walters, and Melinda Marie (Mindy) Massey Bentley and husband Timothy Wayne Bentley all of Tyler, Texas. He is also survived by his much beloved great grandchildren, Zackary Grant Walters, Connor Alan Gewin, Keely Brooke Walters, Carson McKinney Gewin, Colton Wayne Massey (Cole) Bentley, Kylee Marie Bentley, Tucker Jace Wilson, Sutton Luke Wilson, Whitley Hope Wilson, Luke Dwayne Walters, Tara Lian Massey, Major David Massey and Marly Diane Massey. Terry had to leave school early to help support his family after his dad fell ill. He always regretted never finishing school. The last thing he said to his eldest great grandsons when they were sitting with him in the hospital was ‘be sure to finish school’ to which each answered “I will Papaw”. Our family will always be thankful that Terry, Daddy, Papaw was ours. He touched a place in our hearts that we will forever hold dear. We are a blessed family!

Terry Edward Massey

September 22, 1925 - October 22, 2014