Show Vernal Pioneer Veterinarian Celebrates Birthday I Lewis Van Massey of Vernal Vernal Ver Ver- nal celebrated his birthday birthday birthday birth birth- day April 1 at his home at East 1st North with many friends and relatives bestowing bestowing bestowing bestow bestow- ing honors lIe He Is still actively engaged ii in growing fruit and as a junk dealer A pioneer resident Mr Massey is known for his friendship friendship friendship friend friend- ship and charity HE WAS born April 1 1886 1856 in Boon Doon County West Virginia Virgini to John D. D and Cynthia Cynthi Francis Francis Fran Fran- cis Jerrell Massey When he was a small boy his parents and other relatives joined the Church Then because of much ridicule and arid threats because of this religion the family decided to leave their loved home land and move with other families tu to Colorado Mr Masse Massey's s mother looked at the desolate country and said aid It looks like sheer starvation starvation starvation star star- to me It was such sucha a change from the fruitful and productive land they had left behind THE soon changed chang chang- ed the cobble rock cobble rock covered ground to good farm land how how- ever Van attended grade school in Colorado The family family fam fam- ily later moved to Utah where there was opening for homesteaders homesteaders home home- more opportunity for higher education and the Temple They settled in Daniels Daniels Daniels Dan Dan- Canyon Mr Massey and his father Bud and older brothers helped build the road up Daniels Canyon Mr Massey attended the Brigham Brig Brig- ham hdm Young University and attended attended at at- tended night school t to get his degree as a In the medical science HE HE MARRIED Maybell Norma Norma Nor Nor- ma Thacker December December Decem Decem- ber 1 1906 The family moved ed Fd d to the Uintah Basin and settled in Vernal on the old Harth place in old Ash Ashley ey They moved the next year to Dry Fork Here Ilene again the fr i Y LEWIS VAN MASSEY passes panes milestone rocky soil was replaced by fields and fruit trees Mr Massey's Mas Mas- sey's veterinarian skills were In demand far and near FOR MANY years he worked worked worked work work- ed for the government as a skilled trapper The Tie family later moved again to Vernal so the older children could attend attend attend at at- tend high school Here lIere Mr Massey continued as a farmer farm farm- er rancher and His llis love for fishing in the mountain streams relented to planting and reaping fruit trees He lie has been active in the Church all his life FOURTEEN children were born to the Massey couple Lewis LeRoy William Sewell Mable LaVera Sarah Pearl John D D. D Odis Lois Verness Joseph Zelph Edwin Wanda Norman Van Mona MonaRae MonaRae MonaRae Rae and Donelly Also in their family are 58 grandchildren 78 great great grand grand grandchildren children and i tw two 6 great great great-great- great great- grandchildren Mrs Massey died April 2 1953 |