Laura Ethel Massie

Our loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Laura Ethel Perry Massie passed away at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in her daughters’ arms on October 24, 2025. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lora Margaret Perry and Dr. Thomas Amherst Perry. 

She was born on Halloween (October 31) 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri.

 Laura Perry Massie graduated from Fayette High School (Missouri) in 1958 and Central Methodist University in 1962 with an A.B. in Spanish. While at CMU Laura played drums in the Marching and Concert Bands, served on the Pan-Hellenic Counsel and was a member of Delta Pi Omega Sorority and Tau Lamba language arts honorary society. While in college she studied Spanish at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 

Laura taught high school Spanish before returning to graduate school to complete a master’s degree in Library Science. As a librarian, she served school systems in Missouri and Arizona. She found a special place in municipal libraries where children’s literature was a special interest. She was Library Director of the Farmington Public Library [Farmington, Missouri], the Navajo County Public Library [Winslow, Arizona]; the New Madrid County Public Library [Portageville, Missouri]; and the Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System [Marianna, Florida] before retiring.

 Her family who all lived close to her in Farmington, Missouri was the most important thing in her life. She will be deeply missed by them. She was brave, strong, kind, classy, honest, gentle, loyal, and independent. This legacy will live on in her family. 

She is survived by her daughters, Anne Massie and Julie Massie, three grandsons, Jake (Bre) Henson. Zachary (Sarah) Henson, Christopher Link, and six great-grandsons, Cy Henson, Carter Henson, Oliver Henson, Luca Henson, Owen Henson, and soon to be Ozzie Henson. She is also survived by three brothers, Tad (Carolyn) Perry, Tim (Leslie) Perry, and Charles Perry (Kathi Drew) and several nieces and nephews.

 A private celebration of Laura’s life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Laura Ethel Perry Massie Scholarship at Central Methodist University, 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, MO 65248. Share your condolences at cozeanfuneralhome.com.