Mary Frances Massey, 94, of Commerce, passed away on Tuesday August 24, 2021, at Oak Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Commerce. She was born the daughter of James Marriott and Bertha Fleenor Marriott on the family farm outside of Campbell on June 25, 1927. Mary married John Massey on August 5, 1945, in Commerce and she remained a homemaker until most of their kids were grown, and then she found work wherever she could including being a telephone operator, a bookkeeper for a local lumber yard, some secretarial work, and the manager of the game room in the student union building of East Texas State University. Both she and her husband John retired from being employed by the university in various capacities. Quoting from Mary’s notes she was “raised in a Christian home and became a Christian when she was 12 years of age. When she and John were married, he became a Christian and both were baptized a few days later in a big pool with about 20 other people. We were already church-goers and tried to raise our children in the Christian way. We started taking our children to church and Sunday School when they were a few months old and they became Christians at an early age.”
Mary is survived by her sons: Martey Massey of Commerce, Bobby Massey of Seoul, South Korea, and Len Massey of Commerce; grandchildren: Christine Massey Croft of New Jersey, Russell Massey (overseas), Amanda Villaneuva of Commerce Laura Massey of Commerce, Michelle “Shelly” Taylor of Lone Oak, James Massey, John Massey of Knox City, Texas, Aaron Massey of Knox City, Texas, and Jennifer Duffer of Sherman, Texas. Great Grandchildren that survive her include: Merilia Villaneuva, Erica Massey, Mary Lane Massey, Oliva Taylor, Alex Croft, Katie Croft, Ellie Massey, and Elijah Massey. Two sisters also survive Mary: Thelma Earle of Alvin and Audrey Hatley of Alvin, Texas.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband of 56 years, John, sisters: Fay Scroggins, Mamie Lou Callan Chambers, a brother, James Edwin Marriott, a son, Michael Ray Massey and a grandson, Stephen Massey.
Viewing for Mary Massey will be held at the Jones-Walker Funeral Home of Commerce from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday August 26, 2021 and her funeral service will be at the Jones-Walker Funeral Chapel in Commerce on Friday August 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Kris Myers officiating. Interment will follow the service at Rosemound Cemetery with John Massey, Aaron Massey, Mark Scroggins, Kyle Duffer, Michael Taylor, and Antonio Iturbide serving as pallbearers.
