Obituaries

Mary Masdon Massery

Photo of Mary Masdon Massery
Mary Masdon Massery, age 89, of Little Rock, departed this life peacefully Monday morning, September 9, 2019. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who possessed a great joie de vivre. Mary was the mother of six children, the grandmother of 13, and the "great mother" of eight. Always a lover of learning and reading, she never stopped encouraging the younger generations to read, study, travel, and practice the piano. She attended story time at the public library with her children, grandchildren, and even her great-grandchildren. And she enthusiastically participated in grandparent's day events at her grandchildren's schools and accompanied them on school field trips. Mary was very proud of the fact that she was the mother and grandmother of Eagle Scouts (son, Tom and grandson, Benjamin). She graduated from Little Rock Central High School, attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and was employed at the UALR library for 23 years. Mary relished the opportunity to meet people through her work and always remembered the names and personal stories of those she met. She had a special place in her heart for exchange students and loved hearing about life in their home countries. Mary enjoyed attending classes, lectures, plays, and programs. She was the first to volunteer when audience members were needed on stage at dancing or acting performances. Such eagerness once landed her a part in a show at Murry's Dinner Playhouse. Mary spent her lifetime researching topics of interest. She watched Jeopardy religiously, always with pencil and paper in hand, and she often surprised herself and others with her many right answers. She kept up with current events and could – and did -- talk about any subject. In her later years Mary became an avid walker. She enjoyed her daily routine of greeting her neighbors and their dogs by name. She was preceded in death by her parents, C.D. and Rosalie Masdon, and her husband William T. Massery. She is survived by her six children and their families: Rosalie and Steve Sanderson of Savannah, Georgia and their children, Robert and April; Tom and Lea Massery of Alameda, California and their sons, Milton and Zachary; Becky and Conrad Bibens of Porter, Texas and their daughters, Anna and Allison; Ted and Rabbit Brass Massery of Alameda, California and their children, Sarah, Nathan, Andrew and Hannah; R. David Massery of Little Rock; Nancy Massery of Little Rock and her children, Benjamin, Lauren and Jillette. Great-grandchildren, include Sarah's sons, Logan, Caleb and Noah; Nathan's daughter, Maya; Benjamin's son, Lochlan; Lauren's sons, Mason and Jimmy; Jillette's son, William. Other survivors include in-laws, Sr. Angeline Massery, Richard and Faye Massery, and Bobby Massery, many grandchildren-in-law and a host of neighbors and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 12th and Jackson Sts., Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Carmelite Sisters, 7201 West 32nd Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72204. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Mary's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Published September 13, 2019

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