Mr. Fred D. Massie, 84, of Carthage, Illinois passed away at 2:11 A.M. Friday, August 26, 2011 at the Memorial Hospital in Carthage.
He was born November 4, 1926 in Carthage, Illinois, the son of Ralph and Clara Lionberger Massie. On March 19, 1950 he married Virginia Van Hyning in Colusa, Illinois.

Mr. Massie graduated from Carthage High School and served in the US Marine Corps from February 1, 1952 - January 31, 1954. He was a grain and livestock farmer for 45 years on his farm 3 miles northwest of Colusa. He and his wife moved to Carthage in 2000. He was a past president of the Hancock County Health Improvement Association, a past president of the Illinois Suffolk Sheep Association, served on the Hancock County Farm Bureau Board and was a member of the Nauvoo Historical Society. He and his wife owned and operated the 1850's Guest House for 11 years.

He is survived by his wife, 3 daughters, Mary Jo (Gary Doss) Herriman of Dallas City, Illinois, Jan Boyd of Washington, Iowa and Gayle (Bill) Radel of Nauvoo, Illinois, 5 grandchildren, 1 sister, Martha Millard of Armington, Illinois, 3 brothers, Harold and John Massie both of Carthage and Dave Massie of Hickory, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Ethan Herriman, his son-in-law, Rich Boyd, 1 brother, Glen Massie, and his parents.

Friends may call after 4:00 pm Monday, August 29, 2011 at Banks and Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City where the family will meet with friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, August 30th at Banks & Beals Funeral Home with Tony Newton officiating. Burial with military rites will be in the Harris Cemetery, near Dallas City. A memorial fund has been established for the Colusa United Methodist Church, Mayo Clinics Cancer Research, American Red Cross or a charity of the donors choice.