Peggy Massingale

Peggy Jean Groves Massingale passed away June 11, 2024 in Eunice, New Mexico at the age of eighty-five. 

She was born May 5, 1939 in Hollis, Oklahoma to Homer and Omega Hunter Groves. Her family moved to Tipton, Oklahoma in 1954. She attended Tipton High School and worked a part time job with a dairy farmer there in Tipton.

She married Bill Joe Massingale September 8, 1955 at the First Baptist Church in Vernon, Tx. She lived in Tipton and Rush Springs, Oklahoma before moving to Eunice. 

A faithful Christian and member at First Baptist Church, she loved her devotional time every morning after having coffee with her long-time neighbor Juanita. It has been said that Juanita could tell you anything you ever wanted to know about Peggy’s sister and brothers, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Peggy was a hairdresser in Eunice and in Hobbs and gathered more friends than she did customers. Everyone loved Peggy and Peggy loved everyone. Later, she became the bookkeeper for Bill and her business, Eunice Welding Works. In her spare time, sewing was a favorite hobby.

She belonged to several Bridge clubs over the years and enjoyed everyone’s company. Peggy loved to just play games. Any board game or card game that was suggested, Peggy was the first to the table. Always friendly and funny, but the main ingredient was her competitiveness. She has been seen flying over the kitchen table while playing the game of Spoons. 

She loved family get togethers which were spent with laughter, teasing and cooking. It didn’t matter how many cooks were in the kitchen, Peggy was the expert, and it was just understood, that we always went by Peggy’s rules. And we must say, her cooking was always excellent.

Peggy loved to ride Harleys. She and her husband Bill had a big Harley Davidson Anniversary Edition bike and rode countless miles on that motorcycle traveling with friends all over New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma to Harley runs. The Ruidoso run was one of her favorites. 

She later got her own Harley Soft Tail bike that she rode all the way to Oklahoma, dutifully following Bill for a 7-hour ride to the family Thanksgiving gathering. Pulling up in the driveway on her loud Harley, dressed in leathers, shades and a red bandana was a site to see. Omega Groves, her mom, half startled looked out and said, “that’s not Peggy is it”? All we could do is smile and say, “Yep mom, it is”. Loud and proud, Peggy was in her element and having the time of her life. They made many rides back home for family reunions. 

Whether it was her son Danny or the grandchildren (or her younger brothers and sister), Peggy was always interested in what you were doing and if she could help in some way, she would. Her words of encouragement, wisdom and comfort always seemed to help. She was genuine to a fault, and would always tell it like it is, sugar coating nothing. She was real; we loved that about Peggy.  

Peggy was predeceased by her parents (Homer and Omega Groves), her husband (Bill in 2013), her son (Danny Wayne in 2010), and her brother (Jerry Bruce Groves in 2022). She is survived by her sister Caroline Cottingham and brother in-law Larry from Spring Hill, KS (children Kerri and Garrett), her brother Randy Groves and wife Suzie from Castle Pines, CO (children Eric and Kelli), Shirley Groves (wife of Jerry Groves from Hobart Oklahoma and their children Tana and Brad), grandchildren Michelle Tafoya, Charles Wayne Massingale and his wife Malisa from McKinney, Texas, Tiffany Easter from Hobbs, NM, and great-grandchildren, Evie Tafoya, Leandra Tafoya, Gavin Tafoya, Hannah Massingale, Jasher Massingale, Demetri Reed, Audrey Batchelor, Danny Joe Massingale, Emily Bentle, and four great great-grandchildren.