Donna Rae Massey

We all have a journey, and, in the end, opportunities in our life to choose a focus. Donna’s life was centered around God’s grace and caring for children. Even as a child, she knew the pain of loss and struggle, having watched her brother wrestle with polio and losing her father after her parents divorced. She grew up facing the financial struggle of living in a single-mother home, where all the children had to work to help support the family. But, she also grew up with the example of a mother who loved and cared for her children with all her heart. Johnnie Mae Neely’s maternal strength and compassion, and the four generations of family members Donna was raised around in that small home, instructed her in the admirable personal graces of acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, and placing her faith and hope in God.

Donna attended college at Sul Ross State College, where she excelled in her studies. While at Sul Ross, Donna met the love of her life, a US Air Force veteran named Milton Massey. The two were married a few months before they both graduated from college. Then, they moved to Odessa Texas in 1956.

In Odessa, Donna and Milton wove their lives together around serving God. They were members at the Eisenhower church of Christ, and later at Sherwood Church of Christ, a new congregation in the growing city of Odessa.

Both Milton and Donna gave their daughters Christian educations, teaching them at home until they were old enough to be enrolled at the Odessa Christian School, where Donna was also their 3rd grade teacher. Donna later became an elementary librarian, where she encouraged children of all ages to find their love of reading. In every walk of her life, Donna extended the same kind, nurturing love to hundreds of other children in the schools where she worked and in the Bible class that she taught at Sherwood church of Christ.

At retirement, Donna aided Milton in preparing and delivering birthday cards to every member of the Sherwood congregation. Even after Milton passed away, Donna continued this work, also sending cards to Christian family, relatives, and friends in times of celebration as well as in times of illness or loss of a loved one. She labored diligently for the Lord in this card ministry until old age stayed her pen.

After seeing their daughters through college and retiring, Donna and Milton traveled to spend time with their children and grandchildren wherever they were in the world. They even spent summers with their grandchildren, watching over them whenever possible.

After 48 wonderful years of marriage, Donna’s husband Milton passed from this life in 2004 at the age of 76. Then, Donna’s mother Johnnie, came to live with her. Johnnie both supported and was cared for by her daughter until she passed away at almost 105 years of age in 2013. Then, Donna began traveling again to visit her children and grandchildren. She would cross oceans to spend more time with those she loved.

Donna spent her retirement focusing on God and the downtrodden as much as she did her family. Because of the hardships of her own upbringing, she sought to alleviate the hardships of others, regularly giving to help children who were in homes for orphans.

Throughout the entirety of her 89 years, Donna strove to live the example of the virtuous wife we read of in Proverbs 31:10-31. Donna leaves behind a legacy of compassion and grace. The void left by her passing shall echo her good works back to us for years to come.

Donna Rae Massey is preceded in death by her mother, Johnnie Mae Neely, her husband, Milton James Massey, and her siblings, Mary Jo Teague and Carroll Holshouser Neely. She is survived by her daughters, Rebecca Massey Price and Sharon Marie Dwyer, and her grandsons, Kristopher Ryan Price, Kevyn Alexander Price, Daniel Massey Dwyer, and Nathan James Dwyer. Donna is forever grateful for the care and aid that she was given by Sharon’s husband Cary Alan Dwyer and by Rebecca’s husband David Jeffery Wheeler.

Donna’s family would like to thank the staff at the Heritage Park of Katy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Katy, Texas, for the care they gave to Donna and the love, kindness, and patience they extended to her and her family every day she resided there.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation in Donna’s name to one of the children’s homes she supported: India Children’s Ministries, Sherwood Church of Christ, 4900 North Dixie Blvd, Odessa, TX 79762.

A visitation for Donna will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Hubbard Kelly Funeral Home on 601 North Alleghaney, Odessa, Texas 79761. A committal service will occur on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 10:00am at the Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home on 6801 E, Hwy 20 BL, Odessa, Texas 79762. A celebration of Donna’s life will occur on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at the Sherwood Church of Christ on 4900 N Dixie Blvd, Odessa, Texas 79762.