Mary McCowen & Richard Massey bios
So many of you have sent in your bios, all wonderful to
read, you have forced me to end my procrastination!
This will be a double bio since Richard Massey is too stubborn to write his
own.
Richard and I married April 19, 1963 and since I was an only child, my desire
to have children quickly produced our first child, Melinda (Mindy) 38 in June
of 1964 just 4 days after my 20th birthday, so I was not a teenage Mom.
Our second child Richard (Rick) was born on April 20, 1967. He likes to say
we got married just in time--the day before he was born since our anniversary
in April 19th. He has his Dad's sense of humor.
I was fortunate to be able to stay at home when our children were growing
up. I would not have missed being the Mom who did all the running,
picking up, being there when needed whether by our children or someone elses
child. Our life truly revolved around our two stars that were God's gifts
to us!
Richard worked for 7-11 and after being robbed at gun point several times, was
more than ready for a change, when Kent Gasaway's Dad gave him a chance to
learn to be a machinist in his shop. A trade he still likes to dabble in
occasionally. After his job there, he went to work for Sinclair Refinery
on Hwy 225 in Pasadena. That refinery was bought by Atlantic Richfield a
couple of months later and he remained with them
for 16 1/2 years until he took early retirement at the age of 42 in 1985.
Richard had gotten a idea for a reverse alignment tool, had applied for a
patent and received the patent, and started selling the tool on a part time
basis a couple of years before. When early retirement became available
with a continued full salary for six months, it was time to see if this new
venture could support us and fly. Our venture into self employment began!
It has been a blessing (the freedom of doing what you want to do, when you want
to do it) and a curse (durinig tax time and when endless paperwork must be
done), but we would do it all over again!
I do the office/accounting work, Richard does the sells & promotion work,
our son Rick after being a full time college student for 8 years and still no
degree, except assoicate, came to work for us and he does the computer and
machine work.
Mindy received her Master degree in Education from the U of H Clear Lake Campus
with her 3 month old baby in her arms. She taught for 5 years, but when
her babies came along she followed in my footsteps and stayed at home.
We lived in Shoreacres in a 1915 house, a half block away from the bay and the
Houston Yacht Club for 23 years. We fixed the house up more than once,
thanks to several storms.
In September, 1992, our first grandson-Josh- was born to Rick and his wife Joy
and in March of 1993, our first and only granddaughter-Marysa-was born to Mindy
and her husband David Jackson. Mindy had her second child in May, 1997, a
son-Colt. After having our children so young, our children took their
sweet time about starting their families. All three are now in school and
I really miss the smell of a baby around. I guess I will have to wait for
great grandchildren.
In 1993 we decided that we wanted to live in the Georgetown area and after a
year long search and several offers on various pieces of land, we found our 35
acre "little piece of Heaven" on the North San Gabriel River where it
crosses Hwy 183 halfway between Austin and Lampasas, in Liberty Hill, TX.
As I sit here on the porch writing this bio, Richard is on a tractor, straw hat
and all, working the field below where our herd of longhorn cattle
graze. The longhorns are my latest things to nuture. By far the biggest
pets to date. We have 13, soon to be 19 head. Our senior bull,
Lightnin', won his class at the Houston Rodeo 2 years ago and that was such a
thrill for it to happen in Houston, our hometown. We showed them on the
circuit that year in 5 shows, but the work involved was so much, and Lightnin'
did not cooperate with me showing him at the World Show, so we took a break
from it. We do hope to do some showing again next year. I can sit
on the porch and give cubes to our herd. I love
having them that close! They are truly magnificent creatures.
For a city girl and boy, we have country souls. This connection with the
land gives us a contentment like no other.
I believe the life lesson that is the most important to learn is---the most
important thing in the world is LOVE, whether is be love of God, country,
children, spouse, friends, life, animals, nature or yourself. It is available
for everyone for the asking. Love will truly get you through anything and
in giving it, you will get it back tenfold!
Our live has been a tremendous ride and it keeps getting better and more interesting.
Mindy is not only my daughter, but my best friend. We started a new business
-
"Cowgirls in Cahoots" and we just came back from 10 days at Warrenton/Round
Top show. It was so much fun. We are going to try being at Wimberly
Market Days as much as possible. We don't have a permanent booth and the
waiting list for a booth takes a couple of years and we will be at shows here
and there. So if any of you see "Cowgirls
in Cahoots" sign somewhere, stop and say"hello" and give me a
hug. Do tell me what your name is because my brain has a real problem
assocating faces with names and that goes for the Reunion too!
I hope to see you all at the reunion and for those of you not able to attend,
I wish you health, happiness and most of all LOVE!
The ride continues
Mary McCowen Massey
Richard Massey