Hal Massey

Salt Lake City, Utah/Salina, Utah - Our kind and beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, Harold Bernard Massey, age 94, passed away October 5, 2018 in Sandy, Utah. He was born March 12, 1924 in Salina, Utah, a son of Cecil Bruce and Ruth Elben Massey. Hal, as he was affectionately known as, had exceptional strength as a young man and was a gifted gymnast. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in North Africa in the infantry and then in Burma s a drill instructor. His last post was in India where he was a Sergeant in the US Army. Hal married Lariece Wade and together they had six children. They were later divorced. He married Imelda Otzoy January 14, 1973 and together they had four children. Hal was proficient in several different fields, including as a banker for First Security Bank, and as an entrepreneur. He built a large greenhouse in Idaho with Lariece, which he nurtured for many years as an avid arborist and florist. He owned seven jewelry stores throughout Utah specializing in Native American Jewelry and he especially enjoyed working with materials of silver and turquoise. He loved flying his two engine plane to his stores know as Crazy Bear Indian Jewelry. He went to Guatemala in 1973 and working in the highlands with the Mayan Indians, teaching them to grow crops and opening schools. Hal owned and operated Yorktown Graphics, a printing business in the Salt Lake Millcreek area for many years. He was always known for starting new ventures and printing all the materials to go along with those ventures. He relished new ideas, new projects and new opportunities. He was known by many as a true patriot and spent many of his adult years as a political activist publishing materials centered on themes of freedom, conservatism, founding fathers, and as a voice of protections for the Constitution of the United States. He was heavily involved in the American Party and served as its President as well as in numerous other positions. Hal always had a little joke to share and enjoyed jovial conversation with anyone new he met. He was known by his colleagues, friends, church members, partners, his medical team and caregivers, as fun loving, their favorite, upbeat, unbreakable and kind. He loved ice cream - especially Nelson's malts, sending hazel nuts from his home tree to his grandchildren on birthdays, and sharing a hot dog or pizza at Costco with a friend of family member. Until he was 94, he always took the steps from his downstairs office by twos. If you were in his home, you could count on seeing him bound up the stairs. His favorite pet name for his children and grandchildren was 'Shoogie-plum' and he was always up for having someone sit on his lap or to be rocked to sleep at bedtime. His children have memories of walking around the blocks of their home, naming trees and plants and for at least on Lincoln parked in front of their home, but typically more. He loved nighttime TV and introduced several generations to the likes of Dallas, Dynasty, Bones, and CSI. Hal was considered a rock hound and took family members on trips to look for Indian arrowheads, geodes and more. He always had a rock collection and the equipment to polish up stones. He was a passionate gardener and for many years when he was in his 80's and 90's had a large garden, sometimes close to 1 acre. He loved canned vegetables and fruits and also took great pride and care of the many fruit trees that were at his home. He became an avid family history proponent in his 80's and prepared literally thousands of names for submission to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of which he was a devout member. He spent countless hours on the computer and at the Temple pursuing that passion. He held callings in his Millcreek 2nd Ward until he was 94 which included High Priest Group Leader, and overseeing church services at the Paramount Health and Rehab Center. Although he did not graduate from high school, he as a lifelong learner. He had a substantial library and read thousands and thousands of books over his lifetime. He was an advocate of any and all natural health measures. Hal spent his life researching herbs and all modes of natural healing and had a large assortment of mineral and cutting edge scientific health developments which he used over the years. Time and time again he astounded doctors with his incredible ability to heal, his unmatched strength and his overall uncanny and stable vitality. One of his favorite phrases as "We are killing ourselves with our forks." He was a workhorse when it came to rehab his final year after his stroke. He was always pushing for more steps, more control of his speech, more mobility and of course more projects to get off the ground. His family supported his endeavors by creating a large office workspace in his home where he spent his last year planning and pursuing his many ideas and interests and holding meetings to put those plans to action. Hal is survived by his wife, Imelda of Salt Lake City; children: Trena Eaton, Bruce and Ruth Massey, Debbie and Steve Harkey, Julie and John Easling, Cindy Dixon, Wendy and Keith Larson, Jesse Massey, all of Salt Lake City; Melanie and Andrew Hoggan of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and David Massey of Miami, Florida; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce and Ruth Massey; and a son, Brad Massey. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. in the Millcreek 2nd LDS Ward Chapel, 4220 South Jeannine Drive in Salt Lake City, Utah. where friends may visit with the family one hour prior to the services. Burial has taken place in the Salina Pioneer Cemetery in Salina, Utah under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.