Naomi Massingill

Naomi Geraldine Massingill, died in her home on August 24 at age 94, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady and a resident of Niskayuna for more than 70 years, will be held Saturday. Born Naomi Geraldine Tibbitts on June 28, 1922, to Roy and Emma Tibbitts in Crescent OK, she grew up in Ponca City OK, attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha OK, where she majored in the cello. She and her husband, Jennings Alvin Massingill, were married in Lake Charles LA on June 27, 1943. They were married 54 years, until his death on January 3, 1998. He was a graduate of Rice University in Houston and for 40 years an electrical engineer with General Electric. Mrs. Massingill was known for her strong Christian faith. A granddaughter, Rachel Massingill, described her faith: "She is now dancing before the Lord and rejoicing. If you talked to her, she would tell you she was ready to be with the Lord years ago, but He apparently still had things for her to do here." Her life often centered around music and her church. She played cello in the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra for a time upon moving to the area. She was a long-time member of Niskayuna Friends of Music, which supported music education, and Mid-day Musical recitals. She also sang in the First Presbyterian Church choir. At her church she enjoyed mentoring young mothers in Mom’s Break Away. As her late husband would tell her, “So many others have also wished that you were their mother, too.” Family and friends variously called her Gerry, Momie, Aunt Gerry, Grammy, Grandma, Great-Grandma and Nomi. In recent years she regularly read books on her Kindle Fire while keeping track of emails. Nineteen days before her death she insisted on driving herself to her hairdresser. For years she sent a weekly Saturday email to family and friends scattered across the United States. She often closed her newsletters with, "Don't forget to stop and smell the roses." She is survived by six children (spouses): Karen Victoria (Massingill) Bard (Richard Albert Bard), Lynn Karel (Massingill) Graves (Benjamin Harrison Graves III), Lee Jennings Massingill (Laurel Lee (Luetscher) Massingill), Deborah Lou (Massingill) Scheiner, Eric John Massingill (Karen Ann (Dye) Massingill), and Amanda Geraldine (Massingill) Griess (Larry Dean Griess); By 11 grandchildren (spouses): Marsha Rochelle (Bard) Maldonado (Daniel Maldonado), Ryan Thomas Bard (Hoang-yen Tran), Cara Dawn (Massingill) Rouse (Jason Thomas Rouse), Heidi Laurel Massingill, Shannon Lee Massingill, Hannah Marie Massingill, Joshua Jennings Massingill (Rhonda Nicole (Beck) Massingill), Rachel Ann Massingill, Josiah John Massingill, Jeremy Jordan Massingill, and Esther Rose Massingill; By two step-grandchildren (John Benjamin Graves and Christopher Harrison Graves); By four great-grandchildren (Dylan Mateo Maldonado, Connor Liem Bard, Andrew Tomas Maldonado, and Hailey Lan Bard). By one step-great-grandchild (Liliana Paige Riley). Services will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, at the historic First Presbyterian Church, 209 Union Street, Schenectady NY 12305. There will be a visitation on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union Street, Schenectady NY 12309. A brief graveside service will be held Saturday at Memory Gardens Cemetery on Watervliet Shaker Road, Albany NY. Memorial Gifts may be given to First Presbyterian Church, and if mailing, send to P.O. Box 6, Schenectady NY 12301.