Barbara Mae Massey

It is with deep sadness that the family of Barbara Massey announces her passing on July 04, 2022 at Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern, NY, at age 90. Barbara was born July 17, 1931 to Alexander and Frances (née England) Horvay in Los Angeles, CA and was raised in Burbank, CA. She met her “high school sweetheart” and future husband, Barton (“Wally)” Massey, about 1948, and they were married in 1953. Following Bart’s U.S. Navy commissioning and assignment to Yokosuka, Japan in 1954, Barbara joined him, crossing the Pacific Ocean with just 4 other wife-passengers by U.S. MSTS ship sailing from San Francisco. In Japan during 1954-56, she worked in secretarial functions handling highly classified (including Top Secret) documents for senior U.S. Army officers in the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade at U.S. Armed Forces Headquarters-Far East, Camp Zama, Japan (the “Little Pentagon,”) during the Korean Conflict. At Bart’s discharge in 1956 to complete a MBA degree under the G.I. Bill at Stanford Graduate Business School, Barbara—newly moved to Menlo Park, CA—solicited an interview at a garage/office in Palo Alto, CA and was promptly hired as a senior secretary by Varian Associates (inventors of the klystron tube). Varian soon became an important factor in establishing the regional high technology center that today is called Silicon Valley. In 1958, Barbara and Bart—with their one-month old daughter (Mary)—drove across the U.S. from Menlo Park to New York, where Bart started work at the headquarters of Standard-Vacuum Oil Co. in White Plains. In 1960, the Massey family--now also including an eight-months old son (Bill)--was transferred to Stanvac’s Yokohama/Tokyo office, where Barbara—now as a foreign civilian--commenced full-time management of all home responsibilities, including two very young children. In early 1963, following Stanvac’s dissolution by its parent companies—Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey and Mobil Oil—the family moved to Bangkok, where Bart was assigned to SONJ’s Esso Thailand office, and Barbara resumed full home management in an entirely new environment, this time with chingchok lizards on all walls (ugly but harmless) plus cobra snakes in backyard (deadly and common). In mid-1964, the family—now including a third child (John)—returned to New York for work at Jersey Standard’s 30 Rockefeller Center headquarters, and purchased their first home, which they initially occupied on July 04, 1964 and still own—in New City, Rockland County. The following year, their fourth child (Robert) was born.

Barbara was very active in PTA activities for many years, as her four children each completed all K-12 grades in Clarkstown schools. She was an avid gardener, and especially loved spending time at home, expertly potting, planting and growing colorful border flowers and a variety of perennials and shrubs, many of which still brighten the home property. During the 1980s-1990s, Barbara worked full time at Cropsey Farm Garden Shop in New City, where she was cashier and drove a forklift truck to move and stack pallets, and where she made many friends in the community while sharing her considerable gardening skills. In yearly visits back home to California, Barbara and Bart would stroll the various Pacific Coast beaches, picking up sea shells and small stones to bring home for polishing and garden display. Several of her favorite rocks from her garden are placed near her grave headstone. Although legally blind during later years, Barbara was always a dedicated fan of the NY Yankees, and enjoyed very much “watching” all televised Yankee baseball games. She always knew the answer each morning when friends at the restaurant asked “Who’s Pitching Today?” Despite severely handicapped vision, she enjoyed the Turner Classic Movies on TV, and could recite verbatim major sections of many scripts. Also, she was particularly expert at menu planning and meal preparation—in later years, she was very familiar with many TV cooking shows, and enjoyed passing along a variety of favorite recipe selections and cooking hints, all from memory.

Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Alexander and Frances Horvay. She is survived by her loving

husband and soulmate, Barton, together in marriage and close companionship for over 75 years. She is also survived by her daughter Mary Harper (Terence) of Pearl River,NY; son William (Maureen) of Boston,MA, son John (Cynthia) of Big Flats,NY, and son Robert (Kathy) of Morristown,NJ; brother Adrian Horvay (Michele) of Medina,OH; and sister Katherine Bailey of Moreno Valley,CA; 11 cherished grandchildren: James Harper, Elizabeth Harper (financé Andrew Nico), and Blake, Reed, Steven (Shivani), Alexander (Elizabeth), Benjamin, David, Jake and Ryan Massey; and Rebecca Massey (Alex George); and 3 dear great grandchildren Jay, Katherine and Adah Massey. Also, nieces Sabrina McCaskill (Kevin) and Joy Hutchings (Jon), and nephew David Horvay.

In her final years, Barbara confronted serious medical challenges. Still, her loving kindness and grateful heart remained fully sustained. With great sorrow now, but overwhelming gratitude for her life presence, the Family misses her terribly.

A private burial service was held at graveside on July 09, 2022, at Germonds Presbyterian Church Cemetery, New City.

Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared online on the Higgins Website.