RUTH EDNA EDWARDS MASSEY
Died Oct. 23, 2013
Ruth Edna Edwards Massey, 89, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, went to be with her heavenly father Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, 2013, after a three-year battle with cancer. She passed away at Kitty Askins Hospice Center surrounded by her loving and caring family.
A service to celebrate Ruth's life will be held Friday evening, Oct. 25, 2013, at 7 p.m. from the chapel of Howell Funeral Home and Crematory in Goldsboro.
Visitation will immediately follow the service.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Wayne Memorial Park.
Ruth, a homemaker and farmer's wife, was born in Johnston County to the late James Briton Edwards and Mattie Hall Edwards.
She was preceded in death by Charles Hughes Massey, her loving husband of 73 years.
Other than working alongside her husband on the family farm, Ruth's main goal in life was to be the best wife and mother possible. She was a great mother and best friend to each of her children.
She taught each child to always do his or her best.
Throughout, her life, Ruth was also a wonderful caregiver to sick family members and others who needed her help.
She will always be remembered as a woman of faith, who had love and respect for everyone who touched her life.
Ruth was an outdoor person who enjoyed farming. In addition, she tended a huge vegetable garden that she shared with family and others. Ruth also took great pride in her yard, and grew many varieties of beautiful flowers that were admired by all who saw them.
Left to cherish memories of Ruth are her daughters, Annie Fritz and husband, Stephen, Mary Aswell and husband, Edward, and Gail Faircloth and husband, Dannie, all of Grantham and Edna Lancaster and husband, Bobby, of Wilmington; and her sons, Thomas "Tom" Massey and wife, Faye, of Newton Grove, Charles Aaron "Abo" Massey and friend, Kim Stroehmer, and James "J.M." Massey and wife, Sylvia, all of Grantham.
She is also survived by her sister, Elma West of the home; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her brother, Harvey Edwards; her sister, Eva Edwards; and her son-in-law, Charles "Bud" Edwards.
Ruth's family would like to express its thanks to the wonderful nurses, staff members and volunteers and Kitty Askins Hospice Center and Sampson Hospice for the love and care shown to her during her illness.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Westbrook Grove Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, c/o Ben Dunn, 100 Grove Church Road, Mount Olive, N.C., 28365, where Ruth was a lifelong member.
The family is in the care of Howell Funeral Home and Crematory in Goldsboro, where condolences may be sent to www.howellfuneral.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 24, 2013 1:48 PM