Jay Massey
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"The river beckons. It is calling. Let us go." -Jay Massey
Male
68 years old
Girdwood, Alaska
United States
Last Login: 1/21/2009
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Mood:
peaceful
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Jay Massey's Interests
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| General | A native of Oklahoma, Massey grew up with a deep love of the outdoors and a fascination for the way of life of the American Indian. As he described it, "The woods and meadows were my escape. Everytime the oppertunity arose, I was out squirrel hunting or roaming the abandoned fields in search of arrowheads."
After his military service, during which he spent two-years in Europe with the Top Secret U.S. Army Security Agency, Massey attended Oregon State University and earned a degree in journalism with minor studies in wildlife management. He moved North to Alaska in 1968 and worked for nice years for the Alaska Fish & Game. He began freelance writing in 1979. | | Music | THE PATHFINDER -
As if from a bygone era, He seemed to you and me.
If born a hundred years ago, A mountain man he'd be.
With a passion for the wilderness, And a love of nature too.
With ancient skills and craftsmanship, He'd show what he could do.
With materials found in nature, Like wood and flint and feather,
And sinew taken from a moose, And skin tanned into leather,
He'd build the tools of our ancestors, Like arrowheads and bows,
Then demonstrate and educate, With books and archery shows.
He taught me many things, In the short time I was there.
He taught me about caribou, And moose and grizzly bear.
He taught me about the river, And the secrets hiding there.
He taught me about the wilderness, And the wonders it will share.
He walks beside the river now, Along the rocky shore,
Beneath the mountain grandeur, Where the hawks and eagles soar.
The Pathfinder is exploring, The way he loves to do.
Another trail to follow, A new adventure too.
"Tread lightly now Pathfinder. It's near the end of day.
The light is quickly fading, That guides you on your way".
But something now is different. He's traveling alone.
The path he follows now, He must follow on his own.
We cannot go along this time, The way we used to do.
This journey is for him alone, Not friends like me and you.
My heart is filled with sorrow. Why must he go away?
I am so sad to see him go. I wish that he could stay.
"Step carefully Pathfinder. Step carefully on your way.
The path before you darkens, As night takes over day".
A chill descends around me. The sky is cold and gray.
I look out through a veil of gloom, As he slowly fades away.
But soon I feel a warmness. A glow wells up inside.
A deeper understanding, Of a feeling I can't hide.
I soon begin to realize, He's not alone out there.
Someone has come to guide him. Someone has come to share.
What wondrous sights he will perceive. What wonderful songs he'll hear.
All of the pain, he'll leave behind. There'll be nothing left to fear.
Side by side they walk together, To the river of his dreams.
They climb aboard the raft tied there, Beside the tranquil stream.
When the setting sun fades to a glow, Signalling the end of day,
With a gentle push the peaceful raft, Slips silently away.
"Slip silently Pathfinder. Slip silently along.
And listen to the river, As it sings your favorite song.
Slip silently Pathfinder. And make ye not a sound.
As you drift upon the waters, Of your happy hunting ground".
by Gary Olsen 1999
Music recording by Chad Slagle "COMING SOON!"
The Pathfinder was Jay Massey (1941 - 1997)
| | Movies | Indiana Jones | | Books | BOWHUNTING ALASKA'S WILD RIVERS, A THOUSAND CAMPFIRES, THE BOWYER'S CRAFT, THE BOOK OF PRIMITIVE ARCHERY
TO PURCHASE A COPY PLEASE WRITE TO:
BEAR PAW PUBLICATIONS
P.O. BOX 429
GIRDWOOD, AK 99587
(THESE BOOKS ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT - LIMITED QUANTITIES MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST)
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| Groups:
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Bowhunting, Traditional Archery & Bowhunting, Bow Hunting - Archery, outdoorspot, Archery
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Jay Massey's Details
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| Status: | Married | | Here for: | Friends | | Hometown: | Porum, OK | | Zodiac Sign: | Pisces | | Occupation: | Author, Traditional Bowyer, Guide |
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Jay Massey is enjoying a martini next to the Moose John...
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Jay Massey's Blurbs |
About me:
Writer and outdoorsman John E. "Jay" Massey died of cancer on Jan. 18, 1997, at his home in Girdwood. He was 55.
"A great father, a loving husband, a true friend, and a folk hero to many," his family wrote, "he will be sorely missed."
Mr. Massey was born March 15, 1941, in Porum, a small town in eastern Oklahoma. He served two years with the U.S. Army Security Agency, where he had top-secret security clearance. He was honorably discharged in 1964.
He graduated from Oregon State University in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and minor studies in wildlife management and moved to Anchorage.
He built a log cabin overlooking Eagle River in 1972. In 1981, he moved to Girdwood, where he built a log home by hand and has resided ever since.
After arriving in Alaska, he worked for two years for an Anchorage advertising agency, where he handled the Alaska Division of Tourism account. He worked nine years for the Department of Fish and Game as a public information officer. During his time at Fish and Game, he was associate editor of the department's bimonthly publication and hosted a weekly television show on the outdoors.
Mr. Massey wrote an outdoors column for The Anchorage Times for five years, then moved to the Anchorage Daily News, where he wrote an outdoors column and served as outdoors editor for two years.
In 1986, his wildlife background and advocacy of ethical hunting earned him a gubernatorial appointment to the Alaska Board of Game.
Mr. Massey was preceded in death by his parents, James and Sophia; his brother, Tommy; and his daughter, Anna-Marie Massey.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Hogan Massey of Girdwood; his daughters, Sophia Massey of Girdwood and Amy Sara Arnold of Summit Hill, Pa.; and other family including Gus Massey, Buck Massey, Jo June Holt, Lydia Manuel, Nell Tice, Betty Duke and Marilyn Dossey.
Mr. Massey's remains will be cremated and his ashes scattered on his beloved Moose John River.
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