OBITUARY: John Ryan Massey

John Ryan “JR” Massey, 20, died unexpectedly Tuesday, February 11, 2025 in Marshall County from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM at South Gate Church of Christ with John Thomas and Jody Pritchett officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday, February 14, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at South Gate Church of Christ. Memorials may be made in his name to Boy Scouts of America Troop 114 c/o Keith Winchester Scoutmaster 314 West 6th St. #5 Columbia, TN 38401 or The Jackson Cadets c/o Tammy Hatcher 4595 Old Sowell Mill Pike Columbia, TN 38401. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

John Ryan was born on July 15, 2004 in Rutherford County, Tennessee to Jason Ryan Massey and Angela Gail Ervin Massey. He graduated from Columbia Academy in 2023 and worked for Horton Highway Utility District in Chapel Hill. John Ryan was a unique individual who knew who he wanted to be in the very core of his being. He loved hard, was a loyal friend, and an excellent big brother. He was a particularly hard working young man, graduating as a certified welder in May of 2024. He always had too many projects, often working on his trucks, his model trains and dreaming of his next project. He recently joined the Bell Buckle Model Train Club. He was a Jackson Cadet, working with the 1861 Girls School and an Eagle Scout of Troop 114. He was a member of South Gate Church of Christ.

Survivors include his parents Angela and Ryan Massey of Columbia; sister, Jayden “Bird” Massey of Columbia; his “Suga”, Samantha Hopkins of Chapel Hill; paternal grandparents, Debbie and John Massey of Columbia; maternal grandparents, Lola & George Ervin of Columbia; maternal great grandmother, Argee Taylor of Corbin, Kentucky; aunts and uncles, Corey (Marisa) Massey of Columbia, Jay (Amber) Ervin of Rineyville, Kentucky, Wayne Ervin of Columbia, and Christie (Todd) Fox of Columbia; cousins, Maclyn Massey, Tucker Massey, Lily Hamilton, Kayla Hamilton, Justice Hamilton, Abram “Stick” Ervin, J.T. Fox, Henry Fox, and Eleanor Fox; his dog, Tippy Double Barrel Rose; along with other extended cousins and great aunts and uncles that he loved dearly; and “The Boy’s” special family Melissa and Richard Hopkins and Mary Catharyn “MC” Hopkins.

Pallbearers will be Abram Ervin, Garrett Hixson, Gage Bolton, Cole Tubeville, Austin Carnahan, Zach Carnahan, Kade Pratzsch, Cameron Horton, Trace Schoeberl, Austin Grooms, Tanner Westmoreland, Jack Hunter, and Jack Damschrader. Honorary pallbearers will be the Horton Highway Utility District coworkers, friends from WireMasters, BMC Metals, Maury County Parks, and the leaders of Troop 114, “The Committee” and their families, TCAT Pulaski, Columbia Academy Class of 2023, and all his mentors and you know who you are.