SEWELL MASSEY

ROOSEVELT -- Sewell Massey, 79, died August 25, 1978 in a local hospital following a stroke.

Born June 16, 1899, Manassa, Colorado to John D. and Cynthia Frances Jarrell Massey. Married Ora Pope, December 24, 1921, Vernal, Utah, solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, February 18, 1959.

Survived by his wife of Roosevelt; sons and daughters: Virginia Simper, Roosevelt; Garnett N., Deer Island, Oregon; Jarrell M., Meeker, Colorado; Mrs. Homer (Bonna) Seright, Milan, New Mexico; 13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren; brothers and sisters: Van, Vernal; Merle Ross, Roosevelt; Hazel Gurr, Bountiful; Everett, North Hollywood, California.

Funeral Monday, 11 a.m. at Roosevelt First Ward Chapel, State Street and Lagoon, Friends may call at the Olpin Mortuary, Roosevelt, Sunday evening 7-9 p.m. and Monday one hour prior to services. Burial, Vernal Memorial Park

Anita Ashby collection
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SEWELL MASSEY

The Masseys moved from Manassa, Colorado, where Sewell was born, then moved to Vernal when Sewell was about eight. Life was hard, and as soon as the boys were old enough, their father took them into timber work.

When he was still a young man, Sewell set out for Williams, Arizona to take a herd of cattle to his brother, Ira. The closest railhead was in Mack, Colorado. He drove them there and they were loaded into railroad cars. They had to go clear to Albuquerque, New Mexico to make the connection to Arizona. There was a holdover. Sewell got on the wrong train and it had gone several miles before he realized it was going east instead of west. He jumped from the train with his suitcase in one hand and his precious violin in the other. He tramped back to Albuquerque through a storm (which dissolved his old suitcase), only to find that his cattle had left on the right train without him. Nearly broke, he had to wire Ira for money to get to Williams.

In Arizona, he got a job with the railroad as a fireman. One day the 'call boy' couldn't locate Sewell and sent a substitute on the train Sewell was scheduled to work. There was a head on collision and the fireman, as well as many others were killed.

Sewell returned to Vernal and married Ora Pope in 1921. Soon afterwards they went to Sunnyside in Carbon County and Sewell worked in the mines for a year. They came back to Vernal, where they lived until 1947. Sewell farmed, trapped and worked the timber. He and his brother, Everett, bought half interest in a sawmill in Dry Fork Canyon just above the Massey ranch. Lumber only bought $17 a thousand and was seldom paid for in money; more likely in grain, chickens, cows or fruit. Fortunately, alot of their lumber went to Ashton's Department Store, which paid them in store goods.

Ora had a good sewing machine and made all of the family's clothing, except Sewell's overalls and trousers. She used scraps to make moccasins, so their shoes would last longer. In those days babies were delivered at home and Ora often assisted the doctor or midwife. She attended the birth of many family members.

Ora and Sewell were deeply saddened by the death of their young son in 1935.

In 1947 they moved to Nevada and did contract fencing for a year. They went to northern Idaho where they worked in the timber for a year and then returned to Nevada, where they did fencing for three more years. They then moved back to Vernal for three years and then on to Oregon for five years.

Sewell and his son, Jerry, were asked by the Grand Junction Stake of the LDS Church to set up a sawmill. The sawmill was seventeen miles out of Gunnison ard they spent a year getting it in running order. Whenever they went they remained active in the church. Ora served as Primary president and Sewell became a High Priest. When they lived in small branches in Colorado and Oreqon they had to hold three positions at once moving to Roosevelt they served a three year mission to the Indians at Randlett.

All the time they were gone from the Uintah Basin, they had held onto an 80 acre farm on Highway 40, east of Vernal. They sold it and bought a 160 acre farm near Roosevelt. There was a drought that year and farming was bad. Sewell and Jerry knew United Farm Agency (a real estate broker) wanted to open a branch in Utah. They contacted the regional manager and were given the job of opening an agncy. Soon they had more work than they could take care of so Ora decided to help them. She thought she would answer the phone, take messages and make appointments. Soon it became obvious she too needed a real estate license.

They worked the United States Agency for seven years. Then Sewell and Ora went to work for Strout Realty. Ora worked about ten years, until her arthiritis made her unable to type. Sewell continued working until he suffered a stroke on March 20, 1978. He passed away on August 25, 1978. Ora was still living in Roosevelt struggling with cancer of the spine.

Sewell was an excellent violinist. He was part of the family band in his younger days and was frenquently called upon to play for church dances and benefits. He couldn't read music, but only have to have someone play it for him once and he never forgot it.

Uniting of the The Massey and the Jarrells
The Massey Family Association
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Sewell Massey was born on 16 JUN 1899 in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado to John D. Massey and Cynthia Jarrell Massey. He married Ora Pope on 24 December 1921 at Vernal, Utah.

He died on 25 AUG 1978 and buried at Vernal Cemetery.

Survivors are his wife, Ora; son, Norvan. Predeceased by son, Boyd Mars Massey in 1935.

His sisters and brothers are Ira Delmore (died on 1952), Elben Lee (died at eight months), Georga Ova (died in 1960), Lewis (Van), Lois Viola Pope (died in 1937), John Norval (died in 1963), Charles Millard (died in 1969), Arthur Scotty (died in 1970) and Jessie Elena (died in 1967), Susie (died in 1896, Annie Merle Ross and Everett Earl.

Relatives: Massey, Cynthia Frances Jarrell (Mother)
Massey, John D. (Father)
Pope, Ora A. (Spouse)