Bert V. Massey II, 81, of Brownwood, Texas passed from this life on November 13, 2024.
The family will hold a private graveside ceremony, followed by a service at First Baptist Church at 2:00 pm on Thursday, November 21, 2024. All are welcome at a reception honoring Bert immediately after at the Brownwood Event Center. Arrangements are by Heartland Funeral Home.
Bert was born in Brownwood in 1943, as the only child of Bert V. Massey, Sr. and Audree Hopkins Massey. He was a 1961 graduate of Brownwood High School. He went on to achieve a Bachelor of Arts from his beloved University of Texas at Austin in August of 1967. In January of 1969 he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law and became licensed to practice law in the State of Texas in May of 1969. He was also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
While in Austin he met and fell in love with Melinda Brooks Massey, of Hillsboro, and they were married in Austin on June 7, 1969. Immediately after he accepted a job with the Veterans Land Board in Dallas, Texas. In 1972 they returned home to Brownwood where he was hired by Connor Scott with the Brown County Abstract Company. He later became a partner in the law firm of Massey, Shaw & West, focusing on real property law and probate. Additionally, he served as President of The Brown County Abstract Company, Inc., and as General Counsel to Independent Title Agents of Texas on Title Insurance matters. Bert was also a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Bert’s dedication to his community was evident through his service as a Member of the Brownwood City Council from 1978 to 1984 and as Mayor of the City of Brownwood from 1984 to May 2010. He was the longest serving mayor in the history of Brownwood and had the longest continuous municipal service to the City with a total of 29 years. Bert was instrumental in countless public infrastructure and quality of life projects. Some of the most visible are the renovations of the Depot Civic and Cultural Center, the construction of the Martin & Francis Lehnis Railroad Museum, the relocation of City Hall to Center Ave., the construction of the Joint Law Enforcement Center, the relocation of the Senior Citizens Center, the construction of the Bert V. Massey, II Sports Complex and the Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center. Under his leadership, the 2003 Downtown Master Plan was completed which resulted in the Center Avenue streetscape and Pat Coursey Park. In partnership with TxDOT, the Harlow and Monroe overpasses were constructed, and the “Circle” became the “Traffic T” at Hwy. 377 and 84. Bert led the election and passage of the Type A Economic Development Sales Tax which led to multiple significant economic development projects including the creation of the Brownwood Industrial Park, expansion of Texas State Technical College, and recruitment of the TR Havins Unit, Home Depot, Wal Mart Supercenter, and Chili’s Restaurant. His vision for growth spurred him to ensure water certainty by constructing multiple water storage towers and supporting funding for Brown County Water Improvement District (BCWID) water treatment plant upgrades. His passion for water continued, as he served as a Director on the BCWID Board from 2021 to the present. Countless public infrastructure projects were completed during his tenure including major improvements to the Airport, Landfill, and Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Bert was a legendary storyteller and local history keeper. His children often referred to him as a walking encyclopedia and sought his assistance with any school or college paper regarding history. His knowledge of Brown County land and its inhabitants is unmatched, as well as world history in general. He could recall a tract of land, a battle, or historical political event at a drop of a hat.
In addition to his public service as a City Councilman and Mayor, Bert was a member of the Texas Municipal League Board of Directors from 1991 to 1996 and President of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce from 1980 to 1981. He was President of the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA) from 1981 to 1982 and was honored as TLTA’s “Title Man of the Year” in 1984. Bert also served as a Director of the American Land Title Association, Chairman of the TLTA Political Action Committee, and was recognized as an Honorary Life Member of the TLTA. Each year he is honored at the annual TLTA convention, which he and his family attended regularly every summer, with a golf tournament bearing his name. Both his son-in-law, Eric, and his daughter Rachel have followed in his footsteps and made their careers in the land title industry.
He was named “Texas Roadhand” by the Texas Department of Transportation, and he received the “Team Brownwood Distinguished Industrial Service Award” in 1993 and the “Distinguished Industrial Development Award” in April 2003 from the Brownwood Industrial Foundation, Brownwood Economic Development Corporation, and Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, Bert received the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime of Service Award. He was actively involved with the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital and served as a member of the advisory board for many years. Also served as a member of the Scottish Rite Children’s Home advisory board.
Bert loved his cigars and was known to take them with him everywhere he went. Even with his brief stays in the hospital and health facilities he employed lifelong childhood friends to bring him his cigars, much to his children’s disapproval. His sense of humor and sarcasm was unmatched and he made sure to pass that on to his family. He loved to tell stories, and served as the Master of Ceremonies at almost every TLTA convention he attended. He dedicated his life to bless his community, and that included his family, Brownwood, his title family, and pretty much anyone he came in contact with. His main motto was “if you have the opportunity to help someone, you should”, and he lived that every day of his life. He took great pride in his Masonic accomplishments, he was a lifelong member of the Grand Lodge of Texas as a 33rd degree Mason. He was a member of First Baptist church as a boy and remained there with his family his entire life. He taught his adult Sunday School class for many years and was an avid reader. His family remembers many Saturday nights when he sat in his office working on his Sunday School lesson for the next morning. He served on numerous church committees and was honored to be a deacon.
An avid hunter, Bert would often take annual trips to New Mexico and Colorado with friends. He spent countless hours at the deer lease with his children and many hunting buddies playing 42. He coached his son, Bert, in his early years. Melinda made sure he never missed a performance, sporting event, cheerleading, drill team, or academic honor for both his children and his grandchildren. One of his great joys was his family’s Longhorn legacy with Bert, Melinda, their 3 children, both nieces and several great-nieces, and to date two grandchildren attending the University of Texas at Austin. He was able to witness two National Championships in 1969 and 2005, countless bowl games, baseball games, and no less than seven Longhorn graduation ceremonies. Some of his family’s favorite times were spent in the RV tailgating for Longhorn home games and going on epic road trips for championship games. When he initially decided to get an RV, his children teased him and felt they would not use it. Bert used to say he and Melinda never did take a trip in that RV without his children and grandchildren crammed in with them, and those times have become some of their most treasured memories. His absence will be greatly felt especially on Christmas Eve, as it was his tradition to read the story of the birth of Christ and the Night Before Christmas with the entire family gathered around.
“Daddy Bert” is survived by his wife of 55 years, Melinda, and their 3 children – Sarah & Eric McNeese of Brownwood, Rachel Massey of Austin, and Bert and Brandi Massey of Austin. His grandchildren, who named him “Da”, are Cora, Liam and Rory McNeese and Sammy and Nate Browne.
To say that Bert, Daddy Bert, Da, Mayor Massey, and to a select few lifelong friends “Butchie”, will be missed may be the greatest understatement ever uttered. He was larger than life and his contributions and dedication have left an indelible mark on the city and the great State of Texas. His family is incredibly proud of his life and his legacy and is grateful they were able to share him with his community. It is a comfort that his name will be remembered, but mostly that his generosity and character will be remembered. He always said, “People will forget your name and your face, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Try to leave them smiling”.
While we are broken hearted and feeling the enormity of his loss, we are certainly left with a smile at knowing how much he loved us, and you, and will do our best to honor him always.
In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate a donation to the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, 2222 Welborn St, Dallas, TX 75219 or the Brownwood Education Foundation, Massey Family Scholarship, 2707 Southside Drive, Brownwood, 76801.
Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Massey family at heartlandfuneralhome.com