John William Massey

John William Massey, age 87, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, died peacefully on December 4th, 2025, at MyMichigan Medical Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan surrounded by his family. He was born on December 5th, 1937, in Sault Ste. Marie, he was the son of Albert Joseph and Jane Isobel (O’Neil) Massey. John was immensely proud of his parents and his American Indian descent. He is proceeded in death by his parents Albert and Jane Massey, daughter Lisa Kay Massey, brothers, Albert, Franklin, and Robert Massey. Sisters Mary Formalo, Kathleen Allen, Verna Lawerance and Evelyn Heldt. John attended St. Mary’s grade School and later graduated the class of 1956 from Sault High School. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard on October 16th, 1956. He attended numerous Engineer Schools earning an associate’s degree in marine engineering. During his service career, he sailed on four of the seven oceans and served on five of the seven continents. He served on the Cutter Sundew of Charlevoix, Michigan, and was on board for the search of the sinking ship, Carl D. Bradley, in 1958 in Lake Michigan. John was the watch stander aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter EOW of the ice breaker Mackinaw in 1961, the watch stander aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter Sundew in Charlevoix and watch stander aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1964, while serving in Alaska, he experienced the Good Friday Earthquake, John was promoted to Warrant Officer W-4 in 1974 and was then transferred to the United States Coast Guard Cutter Valiant as 2nd Engineer, where he was responsible for searching for drug boats. John was instrumental in locating a vessel that contained 1250 kilos of raw cocaine on the vessel named the “Snowflake” out of Columbia, South America. John also served as an engineer in Cape Coral, Florida, and Juneau, Alaska, and was second engineer of the Medium Endurance Cutter Valiant in Galveston, Texas, as well as the second engineer aboard the WHEC 721 Gallatin of Governor’s Island, New York. While at sea on the Gallatin, he witnessed a Russian Nuclear Submarine explode south of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean. He was at sea for eighty-four days on the Gallatin. John served as the engineer of Long Island Sound New Haven, Connecticut. In 1976, John was selected to go to Saudi Arabia to evaluate their Coast Guard Engineering Department. He spent a year helping to implement the Saudi Arabia Coast Guard, In 1978, John was promoted to full Lieutenant and was transferred to United States Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast. The Steadfast was a 210-foot ship stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida. John served as the Engineer Officer and always spoke highly of his engineering crew and the people who worked for him. John spent his off-duty time traveling in the middle east visiting the Pyramids in Egypt, Athens Greece and the Vatican in Rome and Germany’s Black Forest. John retired from the service in 1985 and returned to Sault Ste. Marie where he worked for Wellington Towing Company. and was an engineer on the tug the Chippewa. Seven years later, he worked for the Corp of Engineers on the Soo Locks until 1993. John loved country music and was a guitar player for The Country Gentlemen band for over twenty years. During these years John became a successful country music song writer. John is survived by his children, Christina Marie Carbone (Michael) of Clayton, North Carolina, Linda Lee Carbone of Hamden, Connecticut, John Anthony (Valeria) of Largo, Florida, Daniel Thomas (Lori) of Westland, Michigan, and Andrew Patrick of St. Petersburg, Florida; grandchildren, Jennifer Carbone, Stephanie (Steven) Bolyard, Alyssa (Heather) Carbone, Nicholas (Stephanie) Massey, Jacob (Jasmine) Massey, Shae Massey, Eric (Savanna) Massey, and Maxwell Massey; and five great grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 377 Maple St., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. A Mass of Christian burial will follow immediately after at 11: 00 AM. Final Resting Place will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens, in Bruce Township, Michigan. Family Life Funeral Homes – Sault Ste. Marie assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be given to the family at www.familylifefh.com.

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John William Massey

December 5, 1937 - December 4, 2025