of Shirley, AR

January 12, 1932 - June 1, 2025

Barbara Ann Parsons Massey came into this world on January 12, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri and passed away at her home in Shirley, Arkansas on June 1, 2025, at the age of 93. She was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Red was her favorite color, and she loved to read books for hours and hours. Barbara was also a member of the Eastern Star.

She is preceded in death by parents, Joe and Elizabeth Parsons; brothers, Marion, Joseph and Raymond Parsons; husbands, Tom Chesney and Oliver Massey; and her only son, Paul Hale Blackwood.

Barbara graduated from Paseo High School in 1949. She married Tom Chesney in December of 1954. In 1957 she and Tom moved with the rest of the Parsons family to Osceola, Arkansas where her father established J.T. Parsons Cabinet Company. Barbara became president of the company upon her father's death. She attended Eagle Beauty School with her brother Joe and then established a beauty salon in her home. After the death of her husband, Tom, she moved her family to Memphis and using her beautician skills, she opened another salon. Barbara returned to Osceola in 1969 to go to work with her father and brothers in the family business. Later on, she met and married Bud Massey. In the 90s, she moved to Greenbrier, excelled in her sewing store, Massey's Hog Heaven, taught a painting class for Bob Ross in Atlanta, Georgia in the 90s, and traveled to sewing machine conventions all over world for the cabinet company. In 2003, she moved to Shirley, Arkansas where she opened Hog Heaven flea market. Barbara had quilts that won first prize in the Arkansas State fair. She had a talent for painting, was a member of Red Hat Ladies, sewed wigs for cancer patients, and most of all, she loved her family, her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. Barbara also loved to needlepoint, knit and crochet.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Chesney Schoessel (Alan), daughter/granddaughter, Jessica Blackwood Massey (Randall), her stepson, Joe Massey (Sandy), her grandkids, Roy and Samantha, and her pride and joys, her great grandkids, Paul Blackwood Massey, Noah Blackwood Massey, and Serenity Blackwood Massey. Barbara is also survived by several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

The family will have a memorial service at a later date at the Osceola cemetery near where the rest of her family resides.

To express online condolences please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clinton.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-McNutt Funeral Home
Highway 65 South
Clinton, AR  72031
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com