Obituary for Robert Dean Massey Sr.
Robert Dean (“Bob” or “Pepa”) Massey, Sr., 95, of Louisville, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Norton Audubon Hospital from complications related to Covid.
He was born November 23, 1925 in West Frankfort, IL. His family moved quite often when he was young and at age 14, they moved to Bowling Green, KY, a community that he loved, where he delivered newspapers. At age 16 he moved to Louisville and while working as a newspaper delivery boy he met his future wife, Beverly Jane Brooks.
Bob graduated from Louisville Male High School in 1943 and in January of 1944, at barely the age of 18, he entered the U. S. Army Air Corps (Air Force). While in training he attended Texas A & M University, and ultimately earned his wings and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at Ellington Field in Houston, TX. He then shipped to Carlsbad, NM to train on the top secret Norden Bombsight on a B-24 which allowed the navigator-bombardier, for which he was in training, to take control of the plane and bomb through overcast skies onto a specific target. He would later tell stories of how he navigated at night by taking fixes on stars. As he was about to ship to Europe and then to the Pacific theatre, the wars ended. His last assignment was in Victorville, CA so he and his comrades celebrated the end of the war in the streets of Hollywood, CA.
He returned to Louisville and married Beverly “Janie” on September 3, 1946. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary this year. In 1948 he completed his college studies and graduated from the University of Louisville. His first job, upon returning to Louisville, was working for the Burroughs Corporation. Realizing that getting promoted was going to lead to multiple moves around the country he left Burroughs and obtained his real estate license in 1950 and started working for an existing firm. Being the independent person that he was, he soon decided that he wanted to work for himself and founded Robert Massey Co. in 1956. He worked in sales, appraisals, real estate investing and property management for decades until selling the business to his son many years later. He continued to come into the office and work up until the end. At the time of his death, he had his license longer than any real estate licensee in the state of Kentucky.
While in real estate he was elected president of the now Greater Louisville Association of Realtors – the youngest to be elected to that office at the time, president of the Kentucky Association of Realtors, and the Institute of Real Estate Management, Kentucky Chapter. He received the Louisville Realtor of the Year award twice, the Kentucky Realtor of the Year award and Property Manager of the Year award from the Institute of Real Estate Management. He was appointed a Real Estate Commissioner by three separate Governors and served as Chairman, twice.
He loved his Louisville Cardinals and was a season ticket holder for over 50 years having traveled to many NCAA Tournament Games and two National Championships. Bob was a member of Big Spring Country Club for 50 years where he played gin rummy and golf for much of that time. He was a Kentucky Colonel and he was known to “occasionally” visit a casino or two where his expert skills at Blackjack were very evident. He was diligent about waiting until 5:00 p.m. for his spirits but his spirits he enjoyed. After being bitten by the flying bug in the service he earned his private pilot’s license in 1962.
He was a regular blood donor and volunteered for many organizations over the years. He was a prior member of the St. Matthews Rotary Club and used to head up the annual pancake breakfast with his own special recipe. At Christmas he was a Salvation Army Bell Ringer; in retirement he served as a driver for those needing a lift for doctor visits and he worked as volunteer at Norton Suburban Hospital at their information desk. He and Janie also served food at the Salvation Army once a week for several years after retirement.
He was an active and founding member of his church, St. Mark United Methodist Church where in addition to serving on committees, he sang in the choir.
Bob and Janie traveled all over the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and to Europe many times. On their 60th wedding anniversary they cruised to England on the Queen Mary II.
He was highly respected and adored by his large family as he and Janie hosted many family gatherings, events and family trips over the years. He was well-known for his baby back barbecued ribs.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Hattie F. Faucett of Evansville, IN, his father, William O. Massey, originally of Chicago, IL, his grandson Jeremy B. Boyd, and his great-grandson Zachary A. Clooney.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Janie, his children; Pat Elliott (Jim), Peggy Boone, Robert Jr. (Glenda) and Paula Fowler (Jimmy), his grandchildren; Christel, Kevin, Robert III, Erin, Lauren and Audrey; 12 great-grandchildren; his brother Paul E. Faucett (Nancy) of Evansville, IN; and many nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to his caregivers, Dr. Henry Kaplan and Dr. Charles Barr for preserving his eyesight as long as possible, and the nursing staff at Norton Audubon Hospital specifically Dr. Ryan Hata and nurses Stacy Fitzgerald and Kevin Mahoney for helping him go peacefully through his final moments in this world.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite charity, Father Maloney’s Boys and Girls Haven, 2301 Goldsmith Lane, 40218.
Due to the pandemic, there will be a private service and burial through Highlands Funeral Home and a celebration of life announced at a later date.
He was born November 23, 1925 in West Frankfort, IL. His family moved quite often when he was young and at age 14, they moved to Bowling Green, KY, a community that he loved, where he delivered newspapers. At age 16 he moved to Louisville and while working as a newspaper delivery boy he met his future wife, Beverly Jane Brooks.
Bob graduated from Louisville Male High School in 1943 and in January of 1944, at barely the age of 18, he entered the U. S. Army Air Corps (Air Force). While in training he attended Texas A & M University, and ultimately earned his wings and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at Ellington Field in Houston, TX. He then shipped to Carlsbad, NM to train on the top secret Norden Bombsight on a B-24 which allowed the navigator-bombardier, for which he was in training, to take control of the plane and bomb through overcast skies onto a specific target. He would later tell stories of how he navigated at night by taking fixes on stars. As he was about to ship to Europe and then to the Pacific theatre, the wars ended. His last assignment was in Victorville, CA so he and his comrades celebrated the end of the war in the streets of Hollywood, CA.
He returned to Louisville and married Beverly “Janie” on September 3, 1946. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary this year. In 1948 he completed his college studies and graduated from the University of Louisville. His first job, upon returning to Louisville, was working for the Burroughs Corporation. Realizing that getting promoted was going to lead to multiple moves around the country he left Burroughs and obtained his real estate license in 1950 and started working for an existing firm. Being the independent person that he was, he soon decided that he wanted to work for himself and founded Robert Massey Co. in 1956. He worked in sales, appraisals, real estate investing and property management for decades until selling the business to his son many years later. He continued to come into the office and work up until the end. At the time of his death, he had his license longer than any real estate licensee in the state of Kentucky.
While in real estate he was elected president of the now Greater Louisville Association of Realtors – the youngest to be elected to that office at the time, president of the Kentucky Association of Realtors, and the Institute of Real Estate Management, Kentucky Chapter. He received the Louisville Realtor of the Year award twice, the Kentucky Realtor of the Year award and Property Manager of the Year award from the Institute of Real Estate Management. He was appointed a Real Estate Commissioner by three separate Governors and served as Chairman, twice.
He loved his Louisville Cardinals and was a season ticket holder for over 50 years having traveled to many NCAA Tournament Games and two National Championships. Bob was a member of Big Spring Country Club for 50 years where he played gin rummy and golf for much of that time. He was a Kentucky Colonel and he was known to “occasionally” visit a casino or two where his expert skills at Blackjack were very evident. He was diligent about waiting until 5:00 p.m. for his spirits but his spirits he enjoyed. After being bitten by the flying bug in the service he earned his private pilot’s license in 1962.
He was a regular blood donor and volunteered for many organizations over the years. He was a prior member of the St. Matthews Rotary Club and used to head up the annual pancake breakfast with his own special recipe. At Christmas he was a Salvation Army Bell Ringer; in retirement he served as a driver for those needing a lift for doctor visits and he worked as volunteer at Norton Suburban Hospital at their information desk. He and Janie also served food at the Salvation Army once a week for several years after retirement.
He was an active and founding member of his church, St. Mark United Methodist Church where in addition to serving on committees, he sang in the choir.
Bob and Janie traveled all over the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and to Europe many times. On their 60th wedding anniversary they cruised to England on the Queen Mary II.
He was highly respected and adored by his large family as he and Janie hosted many family gatherings, events and family trips over the years. He was well-known for his baby back barbecued ribs.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Hattie F. Faucett of Evansville, IN, his father, William O. Massey, originally of Chicago, IL, his grandson Jeremy B. Boyd, and his great-grandson Zachary A. Clooney.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Janie, his children; Pat Elliott (Jim), Peggy Boone, Robert Jr. (Glenda) and Paula Fowler (Jimmy), his grandchildren; Christel, Kevin, Robert III, Erin, Lauren and Audrey; 12 great-grandchildren; his brother Paul E. Faucett (Nancy) of Evansville, IN; and many nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to his caregivers, Dr. Henry Kaplan and Dr. Charles Barr for preserving his eyesight as long as possible, and the nursing staff at Norton Audubon Hospital specifically Dr. Ryan Hata and nurses Stacy Fitzgerald and Kevin Mahoney for helping him go peacefully through his final moments in this world.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite charity, Father Maloney’s Boys and Girls Haven, 2301 Goldsmith Lane, 40218.
Due to the pandemic, there will be a private service and burial through Highlands Funeral Home and a celebration of life announced at a later date.