Donald Leroy Massey, 72, of Tifton died Tuesday, January 21, 2014, at Southern Care Assisted Living. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2014, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. B. J. Funk will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. His pilot friends from Walker Aviation, James Walker, Clark Walker, Rick Maluda, Leon Benefield, Jason Haswell and W. E. Clements, will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be retired and active faculty and staff at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 23, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Massey was born on August 24, 1941 in Tift County and was the son of Lester “Turk” Massey and Fannie Bryan Massey and Hazel Whittington Massey, all deceased. He was also preceded in death by one step-brother, Earl Rayborn Tucker. He taught math at Tift County High School for three years and retired from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, where he was an associate professor in Math for 30 years. He was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Tifton and was the Math Club Advisor for several years at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He was a member of the Tift County Airport Authority and enjoyed flying. He was one of the original founders of the “River Bunch”, who he enjoyed camping and cooking with.
Mr. Massey is survived by his wife, Faye Taylor Massey of Tifton; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Becky Massey of Tifton; one daughter, Michele Massey of Tifton; and five grandchildren, Zachary Weeks, Joseph Potash, Emily Potash, Sara Beth Massey and Kip Griffin.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Southern Care Hospice, 412 First Street, SE, Moultrie, GA 31768; or the Alzheimer’s Association, SW GA Regional Office, 225 East 2nd Street, Tifton, GA 31794.