Garry Lane Massey, 74, of Huntsville, AL, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, due to heart failure. Garry, previously a resident of the Quad Cities, was born February 14, 1941 in Alexis Illinois.

A memorial service will be 2 pm, Saturday, April 4th at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home in Milan. Visitation will be from noon to 2 pm at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Quad Cities Animal Welfare Center, Milan.

He attended 2 years of high school in Reynolds and graduated from the new Rockridge High School.

He married Barbara Seitz in 1962. Their daughter Laurie was born in 1966. Garry and Barbara divorced in 2001.

After graduation Garry worked at Modern Woodmen for several years. After graduating from vocational training he worked for Blackhawk Dry Wall & Paint Co. doing painting, wallpapering and taping dry wall. Interested in a new career in 1966, Garry attended and graduated from R.I. Technical School where he learned drafting. He then worked at Kentronics, Hyster and John Deere Plow, John Deere Dubuque and John Deere Davenport.

Wanting better winter weather, he moved the family to CA where as he put it," he worked in the airplane factories" of Douglas, Northrop and Boeing. Later he did contract drawing work in Missouri, New Orleans and Alabama. He learned computer drawing and was privileged to work on rockets and the space station and space shuttle as an engineering analyst. He enjoyed the challenges and made many friends throughout his jobs.

Garry was a self-made man and a dedicated worker. He was a respected engineer who kept the workplace lively. His favorite past-times were riding Harleys, singing karaoke, and enjoying a cold one or two at his favorite pub. Garry was a generous, witty man who had many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lane Massey, Bernice McKee Massey and step-father Elmo Stewart along with a sister Sandra Massey and step- sister Marilyn Bremer. Survivors include daughter Laurie Massey and granddaughter Rhianne Jones of Mission Viejo, CA, siblings Donald Massey (Janet) Plano, IL, Robert Massey (Delores), Oregon, IL, Connie Husted (Donald), Rock Island, IL, and JoAnne Whitley (Dan), Taylor Ridge, IL, step-brother Bill Stewart (Janice), Illinois City IL and step-sister Barbara Tawney, Davenport IA, and several nieces and nephews. In addition, he is survived by former wife and friend Barbara Pearson as well as "adopted sons" Lee Burket and Shannon Davis, both in Alabama. RIDE FREE.

Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com