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Obituary for Jeanne Marie DeVoe Massey

 

JEANNE MARIE DeVOE MASSEY
JASPER -- Jeanne Marie DeVoe Massey, 56, of 3951 County Route 123, Jasper, joined her Lord Saturday (April 12, 2003) at her home, following a long illness.
Jeanne was born Dec. 23, 1946, in Binghamton, the daughter of Walter R. and Eleanor Braun DeVoe.
She lived in Windsor until her family moved to Jamestown when she was 14. She graduated from Jamestown High School and attended Jamestown Community College, earning an Associates in Arts degree, majoring in English.
After her marriage, she and her husband moved to Ithaca, where he attended Cornell University, and she worked on campus in the Rural Sociology Department. While her husband joined the United States Navy Seabees in 1969, she attended Cornell University, studying journalism and received a Bachelor's of Science degree, majoring in journalism, in 1971. When her husband returned to complete his studies following his service, she helped teach a course in Women's Study and worked in the Human Resource Department. The Massey's lived in Perry, in Almond, in Belmont, and moved to Jasper in 1990.
Jeanne taught English Composition at Alfred State College as an "Adjunct" for 12 years and was often called "Coach Massey, The Writing Coach." She received her Master of Arts degree from SUNY Brockport in 2000. She was the author of several children's stories. She joined the staff of The Hornell Evening Tribune in 2001 and worked there for more than a year as a reporter and columnist.
While living in Belmont, she was an active member of the Belmont United Church, serving as Sunday school teacher, choir member and participating in many other activities. Jeanne became a Presbytery Lay Speaker and served in that position for many area pulpits. She was a member of the United Church of Jasper, where she was Lay Leader, Lay Speaker, Clerk of the Session, and many other roles. She was a member of the Jasper Historical Society and a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star Jasper chapter. She was a member of the Hornell Poets' Theatre, which met monthly in Hornell.
She constructed miniature doll house settings, many of which she exhibited annually at the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport. She was a writer of short stories and poems and an avid reader.
She loved gardening, especially "Raised Bed" and low maintenance styles and shared this with friends and with her newspaper columns and other writings.
She was a good friend to all, and to many a very special friend with whom she shared her faith in the Lord and her love. She was always encouraging and never too busy to listen.
During her illness, her friends had the opportunity to return a portion of what she gave so freely. She had a smile and a greeting for everyone who called or came to see her. Above all she was a loving wife and mother.
She was preceded in death by her father, Walter DeVoe Jr., who died in 2000; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lewis F. Massey and Helen Kidder Massey of Jamestown, in 1965; and by a nephew, Jason Schlagenhauf.
She is survived by her husband, Charles, whom she married March 27, 1967. She is also survived by her son, Nathan; her daughter, Sarah; three sisters, Joanne (Anthony) DeVoe Flint of Jamestown, Jeanette (Thomas) DeVoe Crandall of Jamestown, Deborah (Armando) DeVoe Guzman of Chiapas, Mexico; her mother, Eleanor Braun DeVoe of Jamestown; 13 nieces and 14 nephews.
Family and friends may call Thursday 7-9 p.m. or Friday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 29 East Main St., Canisteo. Her funeral service will be held at the United Church of Jasper, Saturday at 1 p.m. A private committal service will be held at the Allen Cemetery, Falconer, at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the United Church of Jasper, Jasper, N.Y. 14855.
Reprinted by permission from the Wellsville Daily Reporter, Wellsville, NY.