Patricia Massey

Madison - Patricia Lee Massey (nee Rowe) passed away Saturday, May 26 at Agrace Hospice Center in the loving arms of her family and friends.

The youngest of 13 siblings, Patricia was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas. After graduating from high school in 1954, she went to work at Fort Riley army base where she met her future husband of 56 years, Dean T. Massey.

They married June 30, 1956, at the Fort Riley Chapel, and were blessed with three children; Thomas (Dawn), Barbara (John), and Linda (Michael), ten grandchildren; Caitlin, Mary, Helen, Dakota, Anna, Jeremy, Maggie, Elaina, Priscilla, and Hanna Marie (deceased), and one great grandchild Patricia, her namesake.

Patricia worked as an administrative assistant in the Guidance Department at Madison Memorial High School from 1975-1995. She was an active leader with the Girl Scouts and 4-H horse program. Patricia loved animals and was an avid Equestrian, passing on her love of horses to both her daughters and grand daughters. She was a member of the Reserve Officers Association Ladies and the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Madison.

Patricia traveled the world, accompanying Dean with his consulting work overseas to China, Czechoslovakia, and Albania. She also supported and traveled with Dean throughout Wisconsin and the country while he served as Grand Master of the Masons in Wisconsin.

After retirement, Patricia took up painting and became an accomplished watercolor artist. She was proud to be juried into the Madison Art Guild and was featured in many of their annual art shows.

Her husband Dean, her three children, nine grandchildren, one great grandchild, and three siblings (Bernice, Jim and Jean) and many nieces and nephews survive Patricia. She has been greeted in Heaven by her parents: James and Hilda, and nine siblings: Gladys, Thelma, Bertha, Robert, Billy, Margaret, Bess, Joanne, her loving twin sister Betty and her grand daughter Hanna Marie.

She was an inspiration and dear friend to many. The world is more beautiful because of her.

A special thank you to Dr. Michael Thom her long time physician and her pulmonary physician Dr. Nizar Jarjour at the University of Wisconsin for his caring support throughout her illness. He, Dean and Pat became close and we always looked forward to our appointments with him. Also the family wishes to thank Agrace HospiceCare for guiding us and Patricia through her final month. Thank you to her nurse, Angie for being there for her 24/7.

Visitation hours are Wednesday, May 30, 2012 from 4-7pm at Cress Funeral Home at 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 31 at 11am at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, with Msgr. Kenneth J. Fiedler officiating. A visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at church on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Patricia Massey's honor to the Children's Dyslexia Center-Madison, Inc., 301 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI 53703 or the Dane County Humane Society, 5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI 53718.