Joseph "Joe" Emmanuel Massey

On Sunday, July 26, 2020, Joseph (“Joe”) E. Massey was born again into eternal life with our Heavenly Father, following a year-long battle with a rare form of cancer. Joe was born on April 11, 1960 in Pensacola, FL, to Wilbur Emmanuel and Shirley Ann (Wenzel) Massey. The second of seven children, Joe grew up in Bellview, FL, fishing, playing sports, and causing mischief with his siblings and a beloved posse of neighborhood kids. He graduated from Pine Forest High school in 1978, where he was voted “Mr. P.E.” (Physical Education) by his senior class. After graduating, Joe followed his passion for athletics and embarked on a lifelong career in sporting goods, starting at Biggs Sporting Goods, where he became their warehouse manager. He then managed Champs Sports stores in Buffalo, NY and Ocala, FL. His career culminated in his role as manager of David Bowen Sporting Goods in Pensacola from 1996 – 2019. Joe was a devout follower of Christ and a lifelong parishioner at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Bellview, where he met the love of his life, Cheryl Skipper, in 1989. Joe and Cheryl were married in 1990 and remained devoted to each other for thirty years, setting an example of unwavering love, respect, and compassion. They had three daughters, Lauren, Jessica, and Katie, and Joe was a wonderful father to each. He loved his family more than anything! Joe was cherished by family, friends, co-workers, and caregivers as a kind, loving, patient, hard-working, peaceful, and Christ-like man. He was a natural leader with a good sense of humor who left a positive impact on the lives of everyone he met. In the last year of his life, Joe faced his cancer diagnosis with great dignity, courage, and humility, never losing his spirit or his faith that God had a plan for his life. Joe’s biggest prayer was that God would use his suffering to bring people closer to Him. He was happy to know that his medical team will utilize his particular cancer treatment and its results to benefit future patients with his specific diagnosis. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Shirley. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Cheryl Massey, his daughters Lauren, Jessica, and Katie Massey, his brothers Mike (Rita), Steve (Patti), Mark (Marie), Chris, and John Massey, his sister Carol (Geordie) Wheeler, along with many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 12:30 pm on Monday, August 3rd at St. Paul Catholic Church in Pensacola (3131 Hyde Park Rd, Pensacola, FL 32503) with Father John Licari as the main celebrant. Visitation will be held immediately before the Mass from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm at St. Paul Catholic Church. Interment will be at Pensacola Memorial Gardens at 2:00 pm. In light of the risks posed by COVID-19, the family is requiring that all attendees wear masks and practice social distancing during all funeral events for everyone’s safety. The family would like to sincerely thank everyone who has prayed for us and with us over the past year. Countless people have surrounded us with love, support, and friendship, and your kindness has been so appreciated. We are honored by all of the words you’ve shared with us about Joe and how he touched so many lives for the better. This man who spent his life loving others so well was able to receive that love back in spades, and we are forever grateful. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society. Joe was an amazing man and he will be deeply missed!

Tributes

Joseph "Joe" Emmanuel Massey

April 11, 1960 - July 26, 2020