Montezuma - Ralph Nathan (Nate) Massey, Jr., 87, died August 14, 2012 at Via Christie St. Francis Campus, Wichita. He was born on April 22, 1925 at the ranch home near Sun City. He was the son of Ralph Nathan and Blanche (Cambell) Massey.

Nate was baptized in the Baptist Church in Sun City. He graduated from Sun City High School in 1943. In June of 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army and served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre and fought on seven different islands. After the war, he went to Kansas State University on a basketball scholarship. His basketball career ended when he broke his leg while working at a summer job. He graduated from K-State in the spring of 1957 with a duel degree in Mechanical Engineering and Secondary Education. In the fall of 1951, he came to Ensign to teach in the school system. Nate also worked with all area G.I.'s returning from the war, with a government farming program. In 1958, he went to work for Speed King Manufacturing as a design manager of engineering. He also worked for CrustBuster in Spearville and Great Plains Manufacturing in Salina. Nate had over 100 patents in his name. He retired from Great Plains in 1994. Nate and Ethel Ochs Bryan were married on December 20, 1969. After their retirement, he and Ethel did extensive traveling in the U.S., Canada, and other foreign countries.

He was a member of the Morningside Church of Montezuma, past member of the Masonic Lodge of Ensign and the Midian Shrine of Wichita.

Along with his wife, Nate is survived by a daughter Debra Purcell and husband Mike of Garden City; two step-daughters, Suzan Ratzlaff and husband Arlo of Liberal and Valorie Bryan, Muncie, Indiana; a brother, Dave Massey and wife Barbara of Hutchinson; a sister-in-law, Pat Massey of Louisburg; seven grandchildren; and eight grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, J.R.; a son, Mike Massey; and a step-son, Mike Bryan.

Memorial service will be held at Morningside Community Church on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM with Pastor Tim Erickson presiding. Inurnment will follow at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery in Ft. Dodge with military rites by Howard Gotschall Post #1714 V.F.W. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the Morningside Community Church in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma - PO Box 421 -Montezuma, KS 67867. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.