of Marshall, AR

September 5, 1931 - September 16, 2021

Jo Ann O'Neal Massey departed this life on Thursday, September 16 (2021) at Marshall, Arkansas. She was born September 5, 1931, the oldest child of Leonard Wayne O'Neal and Ethel Esther Cassell O'Neal. She leaves four sons: Sammy Joe Massey (Sheila Ann Fleming Massey) of Campbell; James Troy Massey (Beverly Jean Campbell Massey) of Harrison; Jeffery Wayne Massey (Tami Cook Massey) of Yukon, Oklahoma; and John David Massey ( Kimberly Jean Harrison Massey) of Mustang, Oklahoma. Sam and Jo Ann were married April 24, 1949, at Rodman's Chapel on Bear Creek, near Marshall, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Alexander Massey, Jr. and parents, Leonard Wayne O'Neal and Ethel Esther Cassell O'Neal and her younger brother, Johnie James O'Neal.

She and Sam had nine grandchildren: Whitney Brooke Massey Branch, Kristen Leigh Massey Pearce, Samuel Lance Massey, Daniel James Massey, John Matthew Massey, Ashley Morgan Massey, Tyler David Massey, Nicholas Troy Ward Massey and Shelby Ellen Massey. There are seven great-grandchildren: Gabriel Carter Pearce, Caleb Alexander Pearce, Ethan Fleming Pearce, Gavin Raine Massey, Wyatt Troy Branch, Ansley James Massey and Samuel Oakley Massey.
Pallbearers are her five grandsons and Bo Branch, husband of Whitney Brooke Massey Branch. Honorary pallbearers are her seven great-grandsons.

Services will be conducted by Shirl Williams, Pastor at the Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and Chaplain Carter Pearce, husband of Kristen Leigh Massey Pearce. Services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 at Roller-Coffman Chapel in Marshall, Arkansas. Visitation will be 6:00 till 8:00 PM Monday, September 20th, 2021 in the Chapel. Burial will be in Campbell Cemetery where Jo Ann will be laid to rest beside her husband, Samuel Alexander Massey Jr.

Jo Ann O'Neal Massey lived a very full and adventuresome life. She was born in the Canaan community and enjoyed life on the farm. She was the darling of her parents and along came her little brother, Johnie James, with whom she enjoyed playing and getting into mischief. Her mother had to discipline her occasionally for all the pranks she played on her younger brother. Then along came a little sister, Jenenah, whom she loved dearly. Life was good in the O'Neal family until tragedy struck in an auto accident which took the life of Johnie James, in 1948. Though her little brother was gone, good news came to the family in 1949 with the addition of a new little sister, Glenna Jean.
Jo Ann graduated from Marshall High School in 1949. Jo married her sweetheart, Sam Massey, from the Campbell community and she tells the story that they were married on "a dare." Her story goes that they pulled up to Baker's Drug Store in Marshall on the Friday night of the Junior-Senior Banquet and parked beside Norma Faye Knowles and J. C. Pemberton. J. C. asked Jo, "What are ya'll doing tonight?" Jo replied, "We're going to get married!" They all laughed at the time and the girls went on to the Banquet. After the Banquet, the two couples decided it was a good idea, so they went to Judge Ferguson's home and he signed a three-day waiver for the marriage license. Then they went to County Clerk Lawrence Dale Weaver's home to sign the marriage license. Next, they needed a preacher to marry them, so they went to Bear Creek and had Brother Rodman marry them in Rodman's Chapel. She remembered he had on a long night shirt and night cap while performing the marriage! The rest was history for these fantastic couples!
Jo Ann was involved in many organizations through her career. After her marriage, she and Sam moved to Campbell to live near and take care of his parents. Their home was in a rural area and there were no telephones in 1949. She got involved in going through the community and adjacent communities to have a petition signed for telephone service. This was successful as telephone service came to the Campbell-Landis-Oxley area and today even has internet. She worked as a secretary in the office at the Strawberry Association in its heyday of strawberry production in Searcy County. Also, she was a secretary at the Searcy County Extension Service. She joined the Jaycettes while her husband joined the Jaycees and they worked at many community activities to better the area. Jo Ann enjoyed membership in the Searcy County Home Extension, going to their monthly meetings and participating in their many projects such as canning and food preparation methods. She worked at the Flintrock Shirt Factory and prior to that at the Gassville plant, driving from her home in Campbell. They were overjoyed when a new plant was built in Marshall! She loved to sew and crochet for her family and friends. Jo Ann was ambitious and loved to make a little extra "spending money." Through these efforts, she was an Avon lady for many years and then became a Mary Kay Director, selling cosmetics. Many awards and accolades came her way, and she proudly shares that her name is engraved on the wall at the Mary Kay Building in Dallas, Texas. The last several years were spent crocheting many afghan throws, granny squares and pot holders for the family. She was working on a sweater from these granny squares as she had accidentally sold one of her sweaters in a garage sale and decided she needed a new one. She was known far and wide for her baking cakes for all occasions and which were quite elaborate! Her recipes appeared in a farm journal magazine. A family cookbook was devised and organized by her and her granddaughter, Whitney Brooke Massey Branch, and entitled recipes of the "Massey-O'Neal Family Recipes" which has proved invaluable in keeping alive the past recipes of their ancestors.

In 1968, her husband went active duty in the U.S. Army after serving 12 years in the Arkansas National Guard. CW3 Samuel A. Massey served two 15-month tours in Viet Nam, Korea and Germany. In state tours included Rock Island Arsenal, Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While her soldier was serving his country, Jo Ann would "keep the home fires burning!" She had four sons to attend to and take care of the everyday duties of her household and cattle at the farm. She experienced repairing downed fences, feeding the cows and all of the other duties associated with farm work. She even had a spring house built at the Campbell Farm while Sam was overseas. When he returned home and visited the spring for the first time and saw the swiftly flowing water from it, he named it after his sweetheart, "Mama Jo's Spring!"
Sam retired from the military in 1990 from Fort Sill, Oklahoma so they moved back to their beloved Searcy County. They bought a herd of cattle and started farming in their retirement years. In addition, they had rental properties to attend to, so this kept the newly retired couple quite active. A new Kiwanis Club in Marshall was chartered in 2001, so they became charter members, with Jo holding positions of Secretary and Treasurer for many years. She had fun as a member of the Red Hat Ladies and all their socializing at different eating establishments monthly. Red and purple hats and clothing were quite prevalent in her closet for those meetings. She was involved with the Searcy County Farm Bureau Women's Committee as a Past Secretary, Searcy County Cattleman's Association as a Past Secretary and Searcy County Historical Society. She was quite involved in leadership with the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, having served as Treasurer from 1993-2008, while her husband was active in the VFW and Retired Officers Association. They both sold a lot of pancake tickets as a fundraiser for the VFW to help with local veteran's causes.

She and Sam traveled all over the United States from the East coast to the West coast. She enjoyed the National Park Service stamp books in which she would have stamped at all of the NPS sites. She loved it, but Sam did not always like to deviate their travel route to "just get her book stamped!" But Sam, loving his "Mama Jo" would always do as she wished. They liked to travel to the Military Order of Stars and Bars and Sons of Confederate Veterans conventions throughout the South. They would travel with their sons who were members, to these many conventions and made many friends. Jo Ann was a member of the Boone County Daughters of the American Revolution (through Private Isaac Horton, Sr.), Dames Court of Honor ( through Captain James Tyrie Wright), United Sons of Confederate Soldiers Association and the National Society Daughters of the Confederate States of America Officer Corps (through Captain James Tyrie Wright). She loved being around all of the people associated with these groups and her husband's and son's historical organizations. Many friends were made at these events, and they would address her as "Mrs. Massey" or if they really knew her well, then it was "Mama Jo!"
She and Sam were honored by being selected as the "Distinguished Alumni" at the Marshall High School Alumni Banquet in 2012 for their contributions to the community throughout the years. Jo Ann was also chosen as a "Woman of Distinction" in 2013 by the Harrison Daily Times for leadership in the community in Searcy County. Her nomination letter stated, "She is one of the hardest working volunteers you will find in Searcy County." This was a Q&A with Jo Ann in an interview from Donna Braymer at the HDT as they prepared for the Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon: What do you treasure the most? The love of my life - Sam, my grandchildren and great-grands, my faith and family.
What do people not know about you? They will never know.
What was a make or break point in your life and who influenced you in the direction you chose? Sam was going to Germany (with the military) and I was coming back to Arkansas with the children. I started with Mary Kay as a beauty consultant and then became a director.
At this point in time, what does your life revolve around? My husband, grandchildren and great-grands, Mary Kay and scrapbooking.
How do you want to be remembered? As a loving wife, mother and grandmother and a faithful member in our church.
What was your favorite age? 45
Why did you pick this place for your interview? I didn't have a choice, this was all a surprise.
What one word describes you? Loving, respectful.

They were a religious couple, having served the Lord all of their lives and knowing where they would spend eternity. She was a devoted Baptist and was a member of the Campbell Baptist Church until her family left the Campbell Valley and moved to Marshall in 1964. They became members of the Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, the home church of her parents and grandparents. Jo served as Church Secretary and Treasurer there for many years. Between Sunday School and Church, all eyes watched as she walked to the front of the church to the bulletin board. She would pick up the numbers to be placed for the attendance that Sunday and the offering for Sunday School and Church!
The Love of Her Life passed away on August 19, 2013. She and Sam Massey were "peas in the same pod!" They loved each other deeply, supported each other, and were always at each other's side and best of all, were "best friends!" After his passing, she stayed in their home that they built and lived in since 1964, until July of this year. She had some medical issues which needed to be addressed so she went to live with her son and daughter-in-law in Harrison. She remained there until she needed more in-depth medical care and went to Highland Court Rehab Center where she quietly passed away to join her beloved, Sam. "Mama Jo", "Mom", "Granny Jo" or whatever she might have been called with affection will be truly missed. She was kind, caring, loving and a Godly woman. She was always looking to help others. We Love You Mama Jo, Mom and Granny Jo!

Proverbs 31:10: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Sign Guestbook

32 Condolence(s)