Dorothy Charlene Stewart Massey, 89, of Brownwood, Texas, passed away suddenly at home in the arms of her beloved husband on Wednesday morning, September 9, 2026. She was a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be sorely missed.

Born October 10, 1936, in Indian Creek, Texas, to Charles & Dorothy Stewart, Charlene was the oldest of four daughters. She was named Dorothy for her mother and Charlene for her daddy Charles. Her sisters are Joy Brooks, Linda Stewart (who passed on) and Nancy Blackstock. The family lived in Lamesa, Texas for a time, but most of her life was spent in Brownwood. Her first job was with the billing department of the telephone company.

She met her husband, Miles Deck Massey, on a blind date the evening of her sister Joy’s wedding. Miles was serving in the US Army at the time. After an 8-month, long-distance courtship, the two married on December 26th, 1958, while Miles was on leave. Miles wrote to her every few days from the army dormitory restrooms after lights out. She kept the letters she and Miles wrote each other while he was away in the Army until her death.

They spent their honeymoon on Lake Brownwood and Miles returned to duty a week later. Charlene joined him at Fort Lewis, in Washington State, two months later where they began their married life together. Miles completed his military service two years later and they moved to Mercury, Texas, where Miles was raised. They moved to Brownwood not long after when the farm needed a second income.

Charlene had her first child two years later and spent the rest of her years as a full-time mother of three, grandmother of 10, and great grandmother of many … when she wasn’t driving a tractor or riding on the fender with Miles at the wheel. She also drove the hay truck pulling a trailer as Miles, Roger & Marlon loaded it with hay.

She watched her husband, sons, and grandsons break horses, build fences, work cattle, and haul hay, and she nursed the numerous wounds suffered during those activities. She had a strict “No dogs in the house” rule, but children were mostly tolerated. She ran a tight ship. She was never far away from her wooden spoon. She kept her children on the straight and narrow as best she could.

Charlene loved to cook for her family and later became a pastry chef for the Triple T Grill where her fried fruit pies were a hit. Her pies and cakes were legendary. She was also a world class seamstress and sewed her children’s clothes, wedding dresses, square dancing dresses, quilts, and she created dozens of dolls and sewed them massive wardrobes. She was frugal and known for saving, labelling and dating everything. She didn’t believe in throwing things away. She loved to sing and for many years was part of a choral team that sang acapella tunes for weddings and funerals. The last 40 years of her life, she was an avid Bible reader and read the Word cover-to-cover again and again.

Charlene grew up attending the Sixth Street Church of Christ, where her father, Charles Stewart, served as an elder and later was a member of the Austin Ave. Church of Christ.

She is survived by Miles Deck Massey, her loving husband of 67 years and her children Roger Massey, Marlon & Betty Massey, and Mila & Frank Bravo and her grandchildren: Adeline, Cameron, Ian, Buddy, Marshal, Conrad, Kenny, Elija, Anthony and Courtney … and many great grandchildren.

A visitation is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Blaylock Funeral Home in Brownwood.

A celebration of Charlene’s life will take place Monday, September 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the Blaylock Funeral Home Chapel, 1914 Indian Creek Road, Brownwood, TX 76801.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Cherokee Children’s Home, PO Box 295, Cherokee TX 76832.

Arrangements are entrusted to Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood, Texas.