Sheila Kay (Bartlett) Massey was born May 14, 1951 in El Paso Texas to Gilbert and Johnnie Jo Bartlett.  She left this life on May 23, 2013 surrounded by her family and loved ones.  She is survived by her loving husband and soul mate, Randy; Daughter Tammy Pompeo and her husband Mike;  Daughter Tisha Loranc and her husband Kevin; Son Cash and his wife Kanzas; her mother Johnnie Jo Bartlett; her grandchildren Dallas and Troy Pompeo, Jaxon, Kaylee and Jaci Loranc and Jade and Cap Massey; sister Dawna McNiel and her husband Bob; Brother-in-law Ricky Massey and his wife Bobbie; Father-in-law Bill; Mother-in-law Carleen; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many, many friends who loved Sheila like she was family.  Her Father Gilbert Bartlett preceded her in death.

 

Sheila grew up in Hatch, New Mexico.  She was active in 4H and raised show lambs and pigs.  She was a Rainbow Girl. Sheila was a cheerleader in high school and also sang in the choir.   She graduated from Hatch Valley High School in 1969.  She has remained close to many of her graduating class.  The last several years they have met in the Black Range Mountains for a Labor Day weekend campout, and spent quality time remembering their high school years and catching up on current happenings in everyone’s lives.

 

After graduation from high school Sheila attended New Mexico State University where she met the love of her life Randy Massey.  They were soon married, moved to the family farm in Animas, and began their family.  They raised three outstanding young people who gave them seven special grandchildren.  Sheila, or Nanny as her family called her, had many passions in her life, but family was always first and foremost in her heart.  There was nothing she enjoyed more than watching her kids, and later her grandkids, whether it be showing animals at the county, state or Southern NM State Fairs or playing one of many sports.  You would see Sheila and Randy at t-ball and little league games, soccer and wrestling matches, volleyball, basketball and football games, drama productions, and track meets.  If the kids and later grandkids were participating they were there.

 

Another thing Nanny and Granddad loved to do was to take the whole family to Disneyland. They all share many special memories from those trips. Nanny always said she didn’t like going to Disneyland for the rides. She was just as happy sitting with the youngest grandchild that may not be old enough to ride yet, watching all the grandkids have a good time, or saving the prime parade watching spot on Main Street.

 

Sheila and Randy also liked to travel to Laughlin and Lake Tahoe with their dear friends Tricia and Edward Elbrock, and going out to eat once a week was always on their schedule.  Randy used to joke that Sheila’s kitchen didn’t work one night a week.

 

4-H has been a huge part of Sheila’s life since she was old enough to join.  When she was grown she became a 4-H leader, even before her kids were old enough to belong. She wrote many a demonstration and speech. Taught many how to sew, cook, and bake. Many, many youth benefited from her 4-H leadership.  Sheila was the organization leader for Cotton City 4H Club for 25 years before finally turning that responsibility over to Tammy.   Even after “retiring” as organizational leader she continued to serve the 4-H program as a resource leader helping out in any way she could. Sheila also spent countless hours organizing the annual Columbus Electric Coop Barbeque for many, many years.

 

Sheila was also a driving force behind the Hidalgo County Fair.  She served the fair board as President and Secretary for several years. Making sure that the fair was a success each year. She oversaw the junior livestock sale and coordinated the buyer’s luncheon for many years. She was also instrumental in creating and sustaining the buyer’s pool.

 

Although Sheila often commented that Randy was always talking farming with Ricky, or Edward, or Mike or Cash, or whoever was handy, she also had a deep love for the way of life provided by living on a family farm.  And because of that she was one of the pioneer members of WIFE, Women Involved in Farm Economics.  She held many national offices of that organization, serving as National President for two years in 1998 and 1999.  Sheila and Randy traveled around the country attending national conventions and making friends with fellow-farmers wherever they went.  Sheila also made many trips to Washington, DC lobbying for the rights of agriculture.  She was the WIFE finance chairman for many years, helping to secure donations and sponsorship from various agri-businesses.  She was so successful because of her outgoing and friendly personality.  It was almost impossible for anyone to tell Sheila no.

 

Sheila was also a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha for 42 years.  She was a charter member of the Omega Alpha Chapter in Animas.  Her pet project was the Hidalgo County Fair Queen and Princess contest, but she was always willing to help no matter what the project.

 

Sheila was very patriotic.  She truly loved the good ol’ USA.  As many of you know she had definite political opinions and was not afraid to stand up for what she felt was right.  She served as the chair of the Hidalgo County Republican Party for several years.

 

Sheila was very competitive and loved to play games.  In her younger days, she was on a ladies soft-ball team.  Sheila was the pitcher…. And could she throw a mean pitch.  She loved to play 42 and always wanted to win!  The game she loved to play the most in later years was Texas Hold’em, and she was good at it.  She knew when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em.

 

Sheila was very talented.  She could do most any kind of craft and also painted.  She was a wonderful cook.  She was the ultimate hostess.  Many Massey family reunions, 4th of July picnics, ESA family picnics, Christmas parties, and so many more special times were celebrated at her home.  No matter what the event, her attitude was the more the merrier.

 

As you can see Sheila stayed very busy.  When a job needed to be done, she was always the first one to step up and do it.  And it was always done very well.  However, she did also tend to be somewhat of a procrastinator, which resulted in many last-minute, late-night experiences.  But, it always got done, and was done right.

 

Sheila was so outgoing and friendly.  She never, ever met a stranger.  Even in these last few trying months she made friends with all the doctors and nurses she met along the way, and they always ended up wanting to go the extra mile for her. Dr. Thatcher at Banner Good Samaritan in Phoenix, after having only had the opportunity to know Sheila for a few days told Tammy last week that, “Your mother touched my life for good in a very permanent way.” So you see it didn’t matter how long you knew her, Sheila touched you in a way most people don’t.

 

To sum it up, whether we knew her as loving wife, Mom, daughter, sister, Sheila Kay, Nanny, dear friend, classmate, 4-H leader or partner in crime, Sheila was a special person in our lives.  She will always remain in a special corner of our hearts.