Harold Massie

Harold J. Massie, 93, of Carthage, Illinois, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the North Adams Home in Mendon, Illinois. He was born Sept. 18, 1921, in Burlington, Iowa, to Ralph and Clara (Lionberger) Massie. He graduated from Carthage High School in 1939. In 1947, he married Jean Melvin in Augusta, Illinois. She died June 7, 2011.

Harold raised livestock and farmed the family farm east of Carthage his entire life, with the exception of the time he served in the Army Air Forces during World War II, where he was an engine specialist assigned to the crew that developed and tested the first B-29 aircraft. He later served as a staff sergeant stationed on the Pacific island of Saipan.

He was a leader in the community and served on the boards of many local organizations, including the Carthage School District, Memorial Hospital, Hancock County Nursing Home, Hancock County Health Improvement, Carthage Senior Center, 4-H, Extension Council, Beef Producers, Farm Bureau and Western Illinois Electrical Cooperative. He was a member of the Lions Club, American Legion and First United Methodist Church of Carthage.

Harold is survived by three children, Duane, Carthage; Kent (Sue), Springfield; and Lu Ann (Bradley) Nelson, Madison, Wisconsin; two grandchildren, David Nelson, Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Anna Massie, D.V.M., Spring, Texas; brothers John, Carthage; and David (Joan), Monroe, North Carolina; a sister, Martha (Bob) Millard, Armington; and sister-in-law Bernice Massie, Urbana. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Glen and Fred, and sisters-in-law, Carolyn Massie and Virginia Massie.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 8:00 P.M. Friday evening at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage with family meeting friends from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the funeral home with the Rev. Steve Smith officiating. Burial will be at Moss Ridge Cemetery, Carthage. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Carthage Senior Center. The family wishes to thank the staff of North Adams Home for their kindness and care during the past year.

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