Lt. Col. Earl R. Massey Jr.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Earl R. Massey, Jr. went to be with his Heavenly Father on November 23, 2022. Following a brief hospital stay and a gathering of family and friends, he passed away peacefully at the age of 77.

Earl lived a life of service above self. He came from humble beginnings and from an early age helped support his household as a paper boy. At the age of 19, he was preceded in death by his father (First Sergeant Earl R. Massey, Sr.) and looked after his mother and younger sister (Ruth Anderson and Susan Myatt) until they were laid to rest. Earl will also join many friends in heaven.

He met his soulmate of 56 years, Charlene Buckley, at Oklahoma State University. He quickly realized college wasn’t for him, but also knew he found the girl of his dreams and had to provide for her. He took up the mantle of military service, enlisting as an Army tanker like his Dad. To better support his new bride, he volunteered for Officer Candidate School (OCS). He pestered his Commander every day to see if any slots were open and ultimately took an open Infantry slot rather than waiting for Armor, his first choice. He deployed to Vietnam in 1968, sustaining many wounds and earning the nickname, “Jitters,” and returned from his second deployment in 1971 to his firstborn and only daughter (Jenny). Earl took night classes to finish his degree while simultaneously adding three boys to the stable (Jon, David, Michael). He went on to serve nearly 30 years until his Army retirement in 1996.

Earl wore the cloth of our nation for an additional 18 years (total of 47 years), molding young citizens and future leaders in the Fort Smith community. He taught JROTC at Northside High School until 2014. He loved and mentored his cadets as if they were his own and often boasted about their accomplishment - personal and professional - after they graduated. They adored “The Colonel”, and the Grizzly Battalion honors him to this day with a namesake award given annually to the cadet who best demonstrates service to others.

Colonel Massey also spent free time serving his local community. Whether it was directing a Color Guard at a weekend parade, placing wreaths on tombs at the National Cemetery each Christmas, or serving the least of these with a group of Boy Scouts, he was selfless with his time. He was heavily involved in the Boy Scouts of America for over 20 years and he epitomized their motto, “Be Prepared.” His kids often lamented how early they had to arrive at Church on Sundays and his wife always said, “if he doesn’t own a tool then it doesn’t exist!” He was a Scoutmaster, leading a Troop to the 1993 National Jamboree in Virginia. When leading Pack 7 at Grand Avenue Baptist Church, he was selected the Council’s Cubmaster of the Year in 1989. His legacy lives on in the young men and adult leaders he shaped on long backpacking trips, including his three Eagle Scout sons, which were always a source of pride.

“I got lucky” is how he described the union to his surviving wife, Charlene Massey of Fort Smith, AR. Earl also leaves behind his beloved children, Jenny Holland (Mike) of Shawnee, OK, Jon Massey (Tamrin) of Kansas City, MO, David Massey, MD of Tulsa, OK, and Michael Massey (Laura) of Atlanta, GA. He was ‘Grandpa’ to six surviving Grandchildren (Grant, Annika, Edward, Holt, Malcolm, and Alden). A host of nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends spanning the United States that will miss him dearly.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at Edwards Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, December 1, 2022 at First Baptist Church with burial to follow at the Fort Smith National Cemetery with military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Children’s Ministry, P.O. Box 609. Fort Smith, AR 72902.