Wanda Livingston Massingill

Elwanda Livingston Massingill, age 96, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in her home in Eldorado, Texas. Wanda was born in her grandparents home, August 16,1930 in the Rock House Community east of Hamilton, Texas. Her parents, Key and Tots Livingston, owned a country grocery store with one gas pump in the Cross Mountain community until Wanda was 6 years old, when the realities of depression economics forced them to close it and become sharecroppers. They moved back to the Rock House community and sharecropped with Granddad Livingston. Wanda attended Rock House School, a two classroom building with one teacher, with the Livingston, Cozby, and Massingill families well represented. It was a tight knit, loving, supportive community, struggling with depression realities.

After a May hailstorm destroyed their cotton crop when Wanda was in junior high and her younger brother Duane was in elementary, Key and Tots moved to Fort Worth for work, living first with a great aunt and uncle Cozby, 16 people in a small house with 2 porches and one bathroom. Later, they were able to purchase a small home with an acre of land on the edge of Fort Worth.

Bill Massingill had returned from service in the Pacific and had a salesman job with Rath Packing Company. As a Rock House schoolmate, he came to see Key and Tots because Totsy was a good cook and perhaps to see Wanda.

Bill and Wanda married on February 17, 1951 and moved to Big Spring, Texas where Bill was a salesman for Rath, and Wanda was a homemaker. Their son Rick was born in Big Spring and soon after they returned to Dallas where Darlene was born, and Bill became the Rath Plant Manager. Wanda was a homemaker and mother to Darlene, Rick, and their many friends. During Rick’s senior year, Chris St John’s parents moved away, so he lived with the Massingill’s and has been a member of the family since.

Bill and Wanda discovered Lake City, Colorado in the early 60’s, shared the find with the Breedens, and that has become both families preferred vacation spot.

Bill and Wanda bought a farm near Terrell early on, and when they were empty nesters, built a home there, and moved to be closer to the country and their friends the KL Breeden family. Bill had transitioned to Customer Relations Manager for the Breeden refrigerated trucking company, and he and Wanda enjoyed traveling to see customers, especially in the Southeast. They could also visit their son Rick and his family in Birmingham on those roadtrips.

Bill and Wanda were members of Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ in Terrell, and had many friends there. Buying a house in town, they moved there and became members of the cul-de-sac club, with the Glaeser, Bishop, and Breeden families, sharing social and family joys.

Wanda and Betty Glaeser created a benevolent center in the 1990’s in a small house adjacent to the church, and they grew it into a large facility, which serves many families weekly, with food, clothing, and household items, but mainly the love of Jesus and the hope available thru Him.

After Bill’s passing in 2014 and 63 years of marriage, Wanda transitioned the Share Center to younger hands, and moved to Eldorado, Texas in 2016 to be closer to family. At the young age of 86 she bought a home and transformed it into Better Homes and Gardens status. After upgrading and beautifying, adding flower gardens and lawn care, her home became a sweet spot for family, friends, and neighbors. Wanda especially enjoyed home and community projects and visits from her Texas and Birmingham family, and her beloved Terrell friends.

Wanda had several health challenges recently and appreciated the special care of Adela Sandate, Donna Hibbits, and Lizzy Fuentes, and the care team of Exelcare Hospice.

Wanda is survived by her brother, Duane Livingston and his wife Gene of Texarkana, TX.

She is survived by her three children; Rick Massingill and wife Sandi, of Birmingham, AL; Darlene Edmiston and husband William of Eldorado, TX; Chris St John and wife Minnie of Mission, TX.

She is also survived by many grandchildren, all of whom adore her: Haley Edmiston, Ben Edmiston ( Kelly), Frank Edmiston (Lindsay), Alex Massingill (Lauren), Jake Massingill, Matt Copeland, and Kylie King. Great grandchildren, Mason, Hunter, Ruth Cate, Ivey, Stella, Lorelei, and Jonah and several nieces and nephews.

An open viewing will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Harper-Welch Funeral Home in Eldorado, Texas. The funeral service will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Eldorado Church of Christ. A graveside service and burial will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.