John Travis Massey, age 92, passed away on April 18, 2022, in Searcy, Arkansas. He was born September 26, 1929, in Croak, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his wife of almost 67 years Nancy J. Hawkins Massey; his parents, Dillard W. Massey and Elva M. “Sook” Burford Massey; sister, Judith M. Brown (Edward “Ed”) and great granddaughter, Alice A. Caldwell. Travis is survived by daughters Cathy M. Garay, Sherwood, Arkansas and Patricia L. Wallis (Mike) of Cabot, Arkansas; granddaughter, Erin M. Caldwell (Jared) of Wynne, Arkansas; Grandson, Morgan R. Garay (Kara) of Alexander, Arkansas; great grandchildren, Lucille R. Caldwell, Henry A. Caldwell and William A. Caldwell of Wynne, Arkansas; brother Donald D. Massey (Barbara) of White Hall; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Travis was a Korean War Veteran and a CPA with the State of Arkansas having served 33 years with Arkansas Legislative Audit as a field auditor and Assistant Legislative Auditor.
After graduating from Kingsland High School in 1946, he attended Draughons School of Business in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1946 to 1947. He was employed by the Fordyce Lumber Company from 1947 until 1950. In October of 1950 he and his brother Don entered the United States Navy after the outbreak of the Korean War. He left the Navy in 1954 as Storekeeper Petty Officer Second Class and attended Arkansas A&M College from 1955 to 1958, now known as University of Arkansas at Monticello, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration where he remained as Assistant Business Manager before attending graduate school at the University of Mississippi in Oxford from 1959 to 1960. On February 16, 1960, he joined the State Legislative Auditing staff and remained until his retirement in May of 1993.
Travis may have left the country, but the country did not leave his heart. He always looked forward to “heading south” to check on Sook and Papaw, watch his precious pine trees growing, look for deer tracks, pick the garden, put wood on the porch, and visit his kinfolk to see if he could help them or if they needed anything. He is back where it all started. We love you daddy.
The family would like to thank the Beebe Retirement Center for all the care and support they provided during the time their dad spent there.
Graveside services will be 11:30 AM Saturday at the Wright Cemetery with Rev. Stan Hobson officiating. Arrangements are by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit
www.bentonfuneralhome.net