NORMAN-Services for Elmer Andrew Massey, 83, Norman, are 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2007, at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Ada, Gary Lower and J. D. Cunningham will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Ada.

Mr. Massey died Thursday, August 16, 2007 at a Norman hospital. He was born July 7, 1924, at Fittstown, Oklahoma to James Monroe and Callie Mae Coots Massey. He and his family moved to Colbert and later to Ada. He was attending Ada High School when, on December 7, 1942, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He left then to join the U. S. Navy.

After completing basic training, he was assigned to the USS New Jersey. He helped in building the battleship on which he would serve. After sailing through the Panama Canal, the "New Jersey" arrived to join the fleet in the South Pacific on January 9, 1944. The "New Jersey" was the most decorated battleship in the U. S. Navy history.

Seaman Second Class and gunners mate Massey served his country during World War II for three years and two months. Upon discharge, he returned to Ada in January 1946 to graduate with his senior class.

He attended Murray State College and played football for two years, and finished his college career at East Central State College, where he played football and also received a Bachelor's Degree.

He married Mary Frances Low on April 25, 1947 in Ada. She died May 7, 2007. Mr. Massey joined the faculty of Murray State College in 1953, where he coached football, basketball, and track while teaching Psychology and American History. In 1962 he became the principal at Marietta. In 1969 he moved to the Holdenville school system as principal. When Sulphur decided to adopt the middle school system, Coach Massey was asked to start the program and hire the faculty. He remained in that position until his retirement.

Mr. Massey was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at Murray State College in 2004.

Survivors include two daughters, Karen Acker and husband Mark, Norman, and Karol McGehee and husband Darrel, Corinth, Texas; one son, Andy Massey and wife Lisa, Tulsa; two brothers, Alfred Massey, Fairview, OK, and George Arthur Massey and wife Karen, Bixby, OK; sisters-in-law, Rexann Massey and Wanda Massey; a brother-in-law, Calvin Laxton, Bethany; and four grandchildren, Andrea McGehee, Dallas, TX, Brett McGehee, Corinth, TX, Jacob Andrew Massey, Tulsa, and Leigh Taylor Massey, Tulsa.

Bearers will be Glen Wolfe, Tommy Holt, John McWhieter, Darrel Myrick, Bill Pennington, and Dub Raper.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada