Grover J. "Tom" Massey 1937-2011

MASSEY, JULIAN, HOUCHINS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2013 at 10:28:01

Sioux City Journal
2 October 2011

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa -- Chief Master Sergeant Grover J. "Tom" Massey, USAF Ret., 74, and former Mayor of Sergeant Bluff, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 at a local hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Community United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Deborah Stowers and the Rev. Dr. Paul Samuelson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the 185th ARW Honor Guard. Visitation will be one hour prior to time of service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to www.waterburyfuneralserviceinc.com.

Tom was born on Feb. 9, 1937 in Lafayette, Ind., the son of William and Elizabeth (Julian) Massey. Tom attended Lafayette High School and joined the U.S. Air Force before graduation. He later obtained his GED and furthered his college education through the Air Force. He was served in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star.

On Oct. 25, 1956, he was united in marriage to Carole Doreen Houchins in Sergeant Bluff. After 38 years of service, Tom retired in 1992 as a Chief Master Sergeant and the Aviation Maintenance Supervisor with the 185th Fighter Group. Following a "short" retirement, Tom worked for two years at the A.I.D. Center in Sioux City, and then discovered he loved working as a subcontractor for Long Lines as a cable locator for 13 years; permanently retiring in 2008.

Tom served the community for 11 years on the Sergeant Bluff Fire Department and with the Sergeant Bluff City Council for 23 years, six as mayor.

Tom enjoyed time with his family, especially the grandchildren. His hobbies included photography, bowling, bingo, taking care of his yard, using his metal detector to find lost items, ballroom dancing, and being involved in the community theater as a set builder. As a side note, he was also a Purdue football fan.

Tom was a member of the Community United Methodist Church and the Sergeant Bluff George Nelson American Legion Post No. 662.

Tom is survived by Doreen, his wife of 54 years; his son, Michael Massey and his wife Mary of Sergeant Bluff; his daughters, Deborah Massey of Sergeant Bluff and Hope and her husband Mark Winegardner of South Sioux City; his grandchildren, Alan Anderson and his wife Anita, Austin Anderson and his wife Candi, and Megan and her husband Grant Aschinger, Tanya and her husband Marcus McLean, Ryan Massey, Thomas Winegardner and his wife Stephanie and Jessica Winegardner; his great-grandchildren, Sienna Anderson, Cohen Anderson, Aero Anderson, Hannah Whitead, Zoey Aschinger, Jayna Aschinger, Pryce Aschinger and Graceyn Winegardner; his sister, Mary Pierce of Tampa, Florida; and his mother-in-law, Carole Ann Houchins of Sioux City.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law, Harry E. Houchins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Siouxland or the American Legion George Nelson Post 662.