Rhonda Kay Howard Massie, 51, of Garrison, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2024, at her home.
She was born March 20, 1973, at Portsmouth, Ohio, a daughter of Wayne Howard of Garrison and the late Erma Kansas Meadows Howard.
Rhonda was witty, intelligent, practical, and kind. She graduated as valedictorian of her class from Lewis County High School in 1991 where she met her high school sweetheart, Thomas Massie, whom she married August 28, 1993. She was accepted into both Harvard and MIT and went on to MIT where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1995. While still an undergraduate at MIT, she played an integral part in starting the company SensAble Technologies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, alongside her husband.
Shortly after having children, she and Thomas moved their family back from New England to her family’s farm at Garrison where she enjoyed homesteading and building their home together. She cooked and played music with and for the people she loved. Her family was the thing she was most proud of. Rhonda relished in being a wife, mother, daughter and mamaw. Always most happy to be behind the scenes, she was her husband’s closest advisor and more importantly his peace away from politics. She devoted her time to taking care of her children, assisting her parents, managing the family farm, and helping the people around her.
Rhonda never had a bad day. She was always positive, never spoke ill of others, and remained humble. Her passing was a shock to everyone, but she had fought through years of health struggles so well and without complaint that most wouldn’t have known she had any.
In addition to her father, survivors include her loving husband of 30 years, Thomas Massie; two daughters, Elizabeth (Collie) Crawford of Louisville and Sarah (Carter) Moore of Garrison; two sons, Mason (Sofia) Massie of Manhattan, New York, and Justin (Katelyn) Massie, stationed in Washington State; one grandson, Norman Crawford; three brothers, Michael (Traci) Howard of Spring Hills, Tennessee, Jeff (Pam) Boggs of Garrison, and Robert (Tana) Boggs of Lucasville, Ohio; and a sister-in-law, Patty Howard of Garrison. Many other family members, friends, and neighbors also survive who will sadly miss her.
In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by a brother, Phillip Howard.
Services for Rhonda Massie will be private.
Friends may visit from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Globe Family Funeral Chapel, 103 Dudley Avenue at Garrison.
Pallbearers will be Mason Massie, Justin Massie, Collie Crawford, Carter Moore, Cody Howard, and Jeff Boggs.
Globe Family Funeral Chapel at Garrison is honored to serve the family of Rhonda Kay Howard Massie.
Condolences may be sent at www.globefamilyfc.com.
