Janet L. Massey

Janet Lynn (Geissel) Massey, cherished wife, mother and grandmother, passed peacefully at home, on the morning of July 25th 2026.

Janet Lynn was born to Elden and Neva Geissel in Bakersfield California on February 18, 1949. She was born on her mother’s birthday, which she cherished deeply. She was their only daughter and the youngest of their three children.

Janet grew up in her hometown of Bakersfield, spending much of her childhood at her parent’s store, Geissel’s Market, in Pumpkin Center. As she grew, both she and her older brother Lowell, worked at their parent’s store. It is there that she acquired a strong work ethic. Janet took great pride in her merchant heritage. She spoke fondly of her parents caring for their community through their store and of her grandparents, who owned a store in Taft, doing the same.

She shared with her children and grandchildren stories of her parents and how hard they worked and the home cooked Sunday dinners that her mom lovingly prepared for the family. The Sunday meals were a childhood memory that Janet held dear to her heart. She continued this tradition with her own family, passing this on to her children to continue with their’s.

Janet met her love, Don Massey, during their younger school years, graduating from West High school in 1967 as Mrs. Janet Lynn Massey.

Janet and Don married on April 22, 1967. They spent 59 happy years together, building a life rooted in love, family, unwavering devotion to one another, and countless shared memories.

Janet worked 20 years for Young’s Supermarket. She enjoyed her time there getting to know the locals, who came to expect her warm smile and friendly conversation. Following Young’s, Janet worked for The City of Bakersfield Waste Management Department. She enjoyed assisting local residents with their needs. She helped organize the Great American Cleanup. Janet delighted in involving her grandchildren in this and many other community projects. She made many friends during her time there and retired after 16 years.

Janet had many talents and hobbies. She especially loved gardening and had a very “green thumb.” For years she tended a large, thriving vegetable garden, as well as beautiful roses and hydrangeas throughout her yard. Her family benefited from her garden many times over. Janet shared her love of canning and preserving, cherished traditions learned from her own mother and grandmother, with her daughter and daughter-in-law. Gathering the extended family for a meal was something Janet valued. Her children and grandchildren share fond memories of weekend dinners at her home and of the homemade Ice cream they made together.

Janet was very adventurous and loved traveling. She enjoyed the outdoors and rarely missed an opportunity to go on an adventure with her husband, her children, and later, her grandchildren. Janet and Don enjoyed a variety of outdoor adventures, including motorcycle camping in the mountains, boating and water skiing at Millerton Lake, three-wheelers and dune buggies at Pismo Dunes, and snow skiing. Janet and Don always included family and friends to make these adventures more special and memorable. Snow skiing trips became an opportunity to visit Janet’s beloved Aunt Joyce and family in Twain Harte.

For many years Janet and Don, with a group of friends, went on annual trips to Baja Mexico. They took supplies with them to share with the neighboring communities. Janet spoke fondly of their adventures fishing the Sea Of Cortez, eating fresh caught abalone, the homemade tortillas and the friendly folks that became regulars where they stayed in Mexico.

After her retirement Janet and Don spent time traveling, visiting their timeshare and exploring some of America’s national parks, iconic places and historical monuments.

One especially memorable trip, and a major bucket list item, was to Niagara Falls in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. Along with their daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Don were able to visit both the Canadian and American sides of the falls and had the most wonderful time. This is now a cherished memory for her daughter and family.

Another favorite trip was to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. Janet loved the beautiful colors of the balloons and watching them take off.

Janet shared and passed down the love of camping, traveling and exploring new places not only to her children, but her grandchildren as well. Through all the seasons of motherhood and grandmotherhood, when Janet wasn’t away from home, her children and grandchildren found themselves at her house, spending the weekend swimming, grilling and making homemade ice-cream together.

Janet cherished time with her family and loved making memories with them. She deeply valued family history and traditions. She found joy and took pride in passing this legacy to the next generations.

Janet loved being a wife, a mother, a grandmother and great grandmother and saw these as her greatest accomplishments in life.

She leaves behind her husband of 59 years Don Massey, her daughter Kimberly (Jerry) McAbee, her son Don (Melinda) Massey Jr. and her eight grandchildren- Shannon (Matthew) Flowers, Jeramy (Rachel) McAbee, Chalese McAbee, Carolynne Massey- Redick, Janet (Matthew) Pennington, Amber (Odilon) Lozano, Don (Victoria) Massey III, Kessler McAbee.

She also leaves behind her Eighteen Great Grandchildren that all love and will miss her dearly, two very little great great grandchildren, her older brother Lowell (Trudy) Geissel along with many nieces and nephews that she loved very much.

Janet was preceded in death by her Father Elden George Geissel, her mother Neva Modean Geissel and her eldest brother Bob Geissel.

A viewing for family and friends to pay their respects will be held the evening of Sunday, August 9, 2026 at Kern River Family Mortuary from 5-7 pm located at 1900 N Chester Ave Bakersfield, Ca 93308. A Celebration of Janet’s life will be held on Monday, August 10th at 10 am Kern River Family Mortuary Chapel. Following the services her graveside will immediately follow at 11:30 am Hillcrest Memorial Park at 9101 Kern Canyon Rd Bakersfield, Ca 93306. Her family invites all those that were touched by her life to attend all services.

Details to be announced for a time of sharing memories will follow these services.