Billy Eugene Massey went to his eternal rest on Saturday, October 25, 2014. He was born in Landis, Arkansas on March 7, 1931 to Samuel Russell and Dell Morrison Massey. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Theda Gay Snow, on August 12, 1949. She preceded him in death one year ago on September 29, 2013. Born into a farming family he left school at an early age to work with his father on the family farm near Lunsford, Arkansas shortly after the end of WWII. The knowledge gained from his farming experiences would one day take him far from his humble roots and around the world with John Deere as an Agricultural Engineer. Before that could happen he knew he needed more education so he began his journey at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas in the late 1940's and continued at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois in the early 1950's. Bill began his career at Plow Planter Works in August of 1951 and assisted with the development of Deere's first Quality Control Department. His work as a designer predates the CAD machine era. His work was essential in the elimination of hand labor in cotton production and is associated with many landmark projects.

His son recalls: his work was very important to him and even on our vacations I can recall a moment when he recognized a planter he had helped design working in a field; so he pulled the car over, got out, and waved the farmer over and asked him how the planter was working. They talked for quite awhile and if pride could walk, it did as dad came back to the car. His work took him from the Arkansas homestead to places like Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey with the Mannheim Project. Bill was inducted into the "The American Society of Agricultural Engineers" in 1958. John Deere was the only company he ever worked or wanted to work. But, time, and the grain embargo of the 1980's, meant retirement for mom and dad. They had a long and adventurous retirement traveling to Israel, Ireland, England, and Greece. Living on a golf course in Florida, they entertained many friends and family for a dozen years until health issues brought them back to Arkansas. Bill and Theda were married 64 years and as Mom reminded me even late last year that they were "still very much in love". They had a life together that many would call the "American Dream". It's been said that the stars are just holes in the floor of heaven. If that's true maybe one night we can look up and see them together again.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents; son, Roger Massey; grandson, Eric Massey; brothers, Leon Massey and Donald Massey and sister, Willadean Hanshaw.

He is survived by sons, Mike Massey and his wife, Evalyn, of Muskogee, OK and David Massey and wife, Emily, of Excelsior Springs, MO; sisters, Erma Bloodworth, Irene Grady and Evelyn Snow; brother, Ronald Massey; grandchildren, Erin and Ron Peterson, Randa and Mike Johnson, Lance and Wendy Dixon, Josh and Sherry Massey, Melanie and Jason Scott, Jennifer Rogers and Julie and Rodrigo Soto; great-grandchildren, Ryan Johnson, Abby Johnson, Kennedy Dixon, Logan Dixon, Olivia Scott, Amaira Peterson, Jaden Peterson and Jordy Peterson.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Taylor-Cox Chapel in Pocahontas, AR. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 31, 2014 at Snow Cemetery in Walnut Ridge, AR with James Coker officiating. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge, AR.

Honorary pallbearers are Ronald Massey, John Snow, Josh Massey, and Darrell Hanshaw.