Robert Brian Massey

HIS FAMILY MADE THEIR HOME IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA IN 1938.

HE WENT TO LANDON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 52 WHERE HE MADE MANY LIFE-LONG FRIENDS. HE GRADUATED WITH HONORS FORM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WITH A TRIPLE MAJOR IN MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY.

HE FIRST BECAME INTERESTED IN CARS WHEN HE WORKED IN HIS FATHER’S FIRST AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT. LATER ON HE HELPED HIS FATHER BUILD AND RUN MORE THAN TEN PLYMOUTH/DODGE/CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND GEORGIA AND EVENTUALLY BECAME PRESIDENT OF MASSEY MOTORS. WHEN HIS SONS BECAME INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS, HE HANDED THEM THE REINS. THEY BECAME INTERESTED IN REAL ESTATE AND THE COMPANY IS NOW KNOWN AS MASSEY PROPERTIES.

HE WAS AN AVID SPORTSMAN. WHILE IN COLLEGE, HE TOOK UP SCUBA DIVING AND WATER SKIING, AND THEN HE BECAME A SAILOR WINNING SEVERAL RACES IN THE SORC. HE ALSO COLLECTED HIGH GRADE GUNS AND ENJOYED BIRD SHOOTING ON HIS RANCH NEAR GRANDIN, FL. WHERE HE RAISED CATTLE. LATER ON HE TOOK UP FLYING LESSONS AND RECEIVED HIS LICENSE, MULTI-ENGINE LICENSE AND JET LICENSE AND OWNED SEVERAL PLANES AND STARTED A CHARTER AIRLINE CALLED HOLIDAY AIR. HE ALSO ENJOYED TENNIS IN THE 50’S SAND GOLF IN HIS 70’S. HE WAS AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER AND ESPECIALLY ENJOYED TAKING PICTURES OF THE SAN JOSE LADIES GOLF GROUP. HE AND HIS WIFE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE WINE COUNTRY OF FRANCE AND HE EVENTUALLY WROTE THE WINE SECTION OF THE JACKSONVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL COOKBOOK.

THEY ALSO ENJOYED MANY HAPPY YEARS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL BOARD AND CHAIRMAN OF THE RIVER CLUB BOARD OF JACKSONVILLE 1982-1983. HE WAS A LONG-TIME MEMBER AND PAUL HARRIS FELLOW OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTH JACKSONVILLE WHERE HE SERVED IN MANY CAPACITIES. HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SOUTHSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SERVING ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD, BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MOST RECENTLY AS HEAD USHER.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVING WIFE, MARY ALICE, HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART. THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR FIFTY-SIX YEARS. HE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY HIS SONS, ROBERT MASSEY, JR, (LORETTA), DR. DAVID MASSEY AND RICHARD MASSEY, TWO GRANDCHILDREN BRIAN AUSTIN AND NICOLE ELIZABETH, ONE BROTHER WILLIAM W. (VIRGINIA) AND BROTHER-IN-LAW CHARLES PORTER (GLORIA) AND SEVERAL NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

VISITATION WILL BE AT OAKLAWN CHAPEL ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH FROM 7:00-8:30 P.M. THERE WILL BE A GRAVESIDE SERVICE AT OAKLAWN CEMETERY AT 10:00 A.M. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH FOLLOWED BY A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT SOUTHSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AT 11:00 A.M. A RECEPTION WILL FOLLOW THE SERVICE. HONORARY PALLBEARERS ARE HIS WEDNESDAY LUNCH GROUP AND THE SOUTHSIDE USHERS. FLOWERS ARE APPRECIATED BUT DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO SOUTHSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. HARDAGE-GIDDENS OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 SAN JOSE BOULEVARD IS SERVING THE FAMILY.