Clyde Ervin Massingill

Clyde Ervin Massingill, 82, ascended to meet his Savior on April 23, 2020, in Gresham, Oregon. Clyde was born to the late Great William and Mabel Drucilla Massingill on January 15, 1938 in Brownfield, Texas. He loved recounting his youth in the southwest, including stories of riding his horse to school and excelling as a star quarterback. He graduated high school in Ignacio, Colorado, in 1956 as Salutatorian, followed by enrolling at the Colorado School of Mines. His love of the wild inspired him to become a hunting and outdoors guide, taking clients on horseback expeditions across the southern Rockies. It was not long, though, until his love of country and the patriotic calling of military service led him into the United States Marine Corps in 1959 where he served honorably until 1963. Clyde enjoyed telling stories of being a young sergeant, enduring Okinawan typhoons, serving alongside fellow Marines, and working on aircraft missile systems. The saying, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” was always evident in his life. It was during this period that Clyde married the love of his life, a rodeo queen whom he courted since she was 15--Bobbie Carol Pinckert. Their love grew for over 58 years, remaining strong despite all of life’s challenges. In 1962, they rejoiced in the blessing of their first son, Christopher, and soon they were off to the Great Northwest where Clyde worked several years for Northwest Natural Gas Company. His drive to excel earned him multiple workplace awards, but it was his likeable personality and dry sense of humor that resulted in multiple close friendships, the things he truly treasured most in life. Soon after arriving in Oregon, the young couple expanded their family with three more children--Douglas, Randi, and Casi. Throughout these times, Clyde was a living example of his values, teaching his children the importance of moral character, love for one another, and most importantly, faith in God. His Christian faith was a strong compass throughout his life. Although Clyde enjoyed his career with the gas company, in the late 1970s he longed to return to his love of a rural lifestyle, so relying on his earlier life experiences with horses and livestock, he bought a family dairy farm and moved his brood to Aumsville, Oregon. “Moo Meadows” would become the most challenging yet still most rewarding time of his life. It was here he taught his children strong work ethics, milking over 300 Holstein cows daily. The farm became a top producer, and he raised and professionally showed one Brown Swiss that would become winner “Miss Millennium” a championship contest that recognized the best in the breed of all time. As his children entered adulthood and ventured down their own paths, Clyde also transitioned careers, leaving the farm and entering into the realty business. He became a successful broker specializing in agribusiness. He found great success connecting clients with sellers throughout the Willamette Valley and across western Oregon. This became his retiring profession, sharing his expertise until hanging up his spurs in 2004. In 2006, he and his bride moved to Texas to manage his personal properties, and he proudly called the Lone Star state his home. Still, they returned to Oregon in 2016, settling in The Dalles in order to be closer to the bulk of their family. Clyde enjoyed many experiences throughout his life; however, all agree that one of his biggest pleasures was time spent with family in his 1962 Tollycraft wooden boat. His boys remember riding on his shoulders as toddlers as he waterskied across Cultus Lake. His girls cherish memories of skiing, tubing, and crabbing--all while Daddy proudly looked on and smiled. Even though he struggled through debilitating physical challenges later in life, he could not help but beam and chuckle as he skimmed the waves of the Columbia River with his bride. Clyde had other loves, too: ice cream, goofy movies like “The Villain”, and silly maxims like saying good things were never the best, but always “…in the top 3.” But at the top of his list were his grandchildren. He was never hesitant to brag about each and every one of them, genuinely loving them as unique individuals, anchored by the family that he humbly fashioned.

Clyde was a devout Christian who lived out his values, serving as an example to every life he touched. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He will always be greatly missed by many many wonderful friends and family.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Kenneth. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Carol, his sister, Joyce Tyler, his children Chris Massingill, Doug Massingill, Randi Chisholm, and Casi Massingill-Ruibal. He is also survived by his grandchildren Justin Massingill, Travis Massingill, Kyle Massingill, Hannah Chisholm, Samuel Ruibal, and Sarah Ruibal. He also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws that he loved dearly.

Ultimately, Clyde left his earthly walk with a lasting impression--a lifelong spouse, four children, six grandchildren, and multitudes of cherished friends. He will soon be memorialized alongside fellow veterans in Willamette National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to an organization that helped Clyde greatly and continues to assist disabled veterans and their families, the VA Portland Fisher House (https://www.portland.va.gov/locations/Fisher_House.asp). A celebration of his life and memorial services will be held at a later date.