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Old friends: Farewell to Mr. Massey

Kay Hudson hands the bouquet to her mother and the bride, Jewel Etter, 93, before her wedding to Holman Massey, 92, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011. Following are Etter's granddaughter, Becca Etter, 18, right, and Etter's daughter-in-law, Jill Etter.

Holman Massey, 92, puts the wedding ring on the finger of his bride, Jewel Etter, 93, during their marriage rites with Father Mike Horan, right, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011. Standing by are Etter's daughter, Kay Hudson and the flower girl, Sidney Gary, 7.

If ever the day came when Holman Massey did not flash a broad, eye-twinkling smile from the confines of his wheelchair, it wasn't when I was there.

Massey, Air Force pilot, South Texas small-town mayor, and longtime resident of Morningside Ministries Chandler Community in Monte Vista, died last week at the age of 93. He had just celebrated another birthday.

He died holding hands with Jewel Etter, his 93-year-old wife, seated at his bedside in her own wheelchair. His children had just been there, too.

It was the kind of peaceful passage that many wish for, yet few experience.

Massey and Etter were married in February, and there lies the story. Each had lost a spouse of more than 60 years while living at Chandler. They found themselves attending grief-counseling sessions together and sharing good times at the domino table. Soon enough, friendship turned to love.

My colleague, reporter Vince Davis , crafted a beautiful front-page story about the soon-to-be newlyweds that we published on Valentine's Day, after others here heard elsewhere about the couple's plans.

When we next met, Massey, as I called him, handed me a couple of “Cappy coins” to pass along to Davis and photographers Lisa Krantz and Jerry Lara . The newlyweds wanted to treat everyone to lunch at a favorite restaurant, Cappy's in Alamo Heights.

Claire Cardona, a summer intern here, wrote a touching obituary of Massey that was published in Saturday's edition.

Massey was one of my oldest living friends. We knew each other for only five years, but I'm grateful for the time I knew him and have known Jewel, his wife.

Massey and Etter made a great couple, always handsomely dressed — he in his suspenders, she in a dress — and both were of such good cheer that neither seemed preoccupied by health issues or their own mortality.

Old friends: Farewell to Mr. Massey - San Antonio Express-News

Kay Hudson hands the bouquet to her mother and the bride, Jewel Etter, 93, before her wedding to Holman Massey, 92, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011. Following are Etter's granddaughter, Becca Etter, 18, right, and Etter's daughter-in-law, Jill Etter.

Holman Massey, 92, puts the wedding ring on the finger of his bride, Jewel Etter, 93, during their marriage rites with Father Mike Horan, right, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011. Standing by are Etter's daughter, Kay Hudson and the flower girl, Sidney Gary, 7.

If ever the day came when Holman Massey did not flash a broad, eye-twinkling smile from the confines of his wheelchair, it wasn't when I was there.

Massey, Air Force pilot, South Texas small-town mayor, and longtime resident of Morningside Ministries Chandler Community in Monte Vista, died last week at the age of 93. He had just celebrated another birthday.

He died holding hands with Jewel Etter, his 93-year-old wife, seated at his bedside in her own wheelchair. His children had just been there, too.

It was the kind of peaceful passage that many wish for, yet few experience.

Massey and Etter were married in February, and there lies the story. Each had lost a spouse of more than 60 years while living at Chandler. They found themselves attending grief-counseling sessions together and sharing good times at the domino table. Soon enough, friendship turned to love.

My colleague, reporter Vince Davis , crafted a beautiful front-page story about the soon-to-be newlyweds that we published on Valentine's Day, after others here heard elsewhere about the couple's plans.

When we next met, Massey, as I called him, handed me a couple of “Cappy coins” to pass along to Davis and photographers Lisa Krantz and Jerry Lara . The newlyweds wanted to treat everyone to lunch at a favorite restaurant, Cappy's in Alamo Heights.

Claire Cardona, a summer intern here, wrote a touching obituary of Massey that was published in Saturday's edition.

Massey was one of my oldest living friends. We knew each other for only five years, but I'm grateful for the time I knew him and have known Jewel, his wife.

Massey and Etter made a great couple, always handsomely dressed — he in his suspenders, she in a dress — and both were of such good cheer that neither seemed preoccupied by health issues or their own mortality.

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