DOVER - Orna Lee Massey died Saturday Sept. 29, 2012, after a brief illness surrounded by her loving family in the home of her daughter in Warwick, Md. Mrs. Massey was born Nov. 9, 1926, in Greensboro, Md., the middle daughter of the late D. Kirby Metz, Sr. and Helen Orna Hudson Metz. The family moved to Delaware in 1931. She was a graduate of the Dover High School class of 1944 where she lettered in varsity sports of field hockey and basketball. As one of the World War II, greatest generation, she experienced the daily home front sacrifices. She served as secretary to the Red Cross Field Director from 1945-1946 at Dover Air Force Base, which was a busy facility including a training site for new pilots. After the war she pursued her passions for art and fashion design attending Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a work study program in St. Petersburg, Fla. followed by two years studying at the Maryland Art Institute in Baltimore, Md. She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, George Edward Massey of Dover in 1951, they spent 55 wonderful years together. She combined her creative, artistic spirit onto a canvas of being a devoted and loving wife and mother. She filled the home with love, happiness, laughter, quality family time, Christian ideals, a zest for seeking one's dreams and caring for others. Orna Lee enjoyed a wide assortment of activities ranging from traveling, painting, home decorating; keeping up with the latest fashions, healthy living, and staying physically fit her entire life. She was a person on-the-go and was happiest being involved and staying up-to-date with her family's activities. She was a mother and grandmother consulted for her fashion sense, color coordination and advice. She loved the beach, being by the water and late afternoon sunsets, with so many family memories created in these settings. She combined all of these joys this past summer spending time individually with her three children which included cruising the Sassafras River, a week in the Outer Banks and a land cruise of Alaska with a helicopter flight landing on a glacier, at 85 years young. Mrs. Massey was a member of the United Church of Christ of Dover. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George Edward Massey. She is survived by three children, CAPT George Cort Massey, USN, Retired and his wife Marilyn, of Magnolia Del.; William Randy Massey and his wife Connie of Oxford, Pa.; Susan L. Cushing and her husband, Dr. Clarke Cushing of Warwick, Md.; two brothers, David Kirby Metz, Jr. of Easton, Md. and Thomas H. Metz of Magnolia and seven grandchildren, Alison Massey, Lauren Massey, Jason Massey and his wife Courtney; Ryan Massey and his wife Barbie, Lindsay Massey and finacé Chad Maichle, Joshua Cushing and his wife Amanda and Andrew Cushing and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, at Peoples United Church of Christ, 46 S. Bradford Street, Dover, DE. Friends may call one hour prior. Interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover. The family suggests honoring Orna Lee's memory by contributing to the newly launched national campaign "Moon Shots Program to Cure Cancer" by one of the world's premiere cancer research centers. Make checks payable to MD Anderson Cancer Center, and put "In Memory of Orna Lee Massey" in the memo section. Donations may be sent to: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center P.O. Box 4486 Houston, TX 77210-4486 Or on-line at https:mdanderson.org/gifts/ for funds as designated by family or call 1-800-525-5841. Check out the visionary "Moon Shots Program to Cure Cancer" video on-line. Letters of condolence may be sent and the guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.