Patricia Joan Massingill

Patricia Joan Massingill Patricia "Joan" Massingill, 82, of St. Augustine, Florida, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 15, 2026. Born on Leap Day, February 29, 1944, in Miami, Florida, Joan was the daughter of Eva Frances Vrana and Edward Vrana. When Joan was 10 years old, her parents purchased a fruit business that they renamed Mack's Groves. According to her mother, Joan was always a worker. She balanced her responsibilities in the family business with school activities, earning good grades and, more importantly, forming lifelong friendships that remained as precious to her as family throughout her life. Joan graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School in 1962 and went on to attend the University of Florida, where she was a proud member of the Chi Omega sorority. She graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After college, Joan returned to South Florida, joined the family business, and settled in Pompano Beach. Over the next decade, she helped grow Mack's Groves while also marrying and building her own family. In 1972, she welcomed her beloved son, Eric. Joan was an exceptionally fun-loving mother who delighted in creating special memories for her son and his friends, including crafting award-winning Halloween costumes entirely from scratch. Joan's many talents and passions filled her life with joy. She played guitar, was known among family and friends as an absolute card-shark, and possessed an extraordinary green thumb. Her orchid collection once included more than 500 plants, creating a stunning garden that reflected her patience and care. She also loved fishing and spent countless happy hours on the water with friends and family. It was on one of those fishing trips that Joan met her husband, Jerry Massingill. Together they shared forty wonderful years of marriage, balancing busy seasons growing Mack's Groves with adventures throughout the Bahamas, where they enjoyed fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling together and with family and friends. Retirement brought new adventures as Joan and Jerry explored the United States and Canada coast-to-coast in their motor home. Eventually, they settled in St. Augustine, Florida, where they enjoyed their sunset years together. Joan is survived by her children, Mike Massingill (Claire), Karen Linville (Jack), and daughter-in-law Eileen Van Middelem; her grandchildren, Amelia Van Middelem, Harrison Van Middelem, Amanda Thayer (Ansel), Jeanette Holmes (William), and Rebecca Payne (William); her great-grandchildren, Adelaide Holmes, Lila Holmes, Walt Holmes, Olivia Payne, and Olin Thayer; her sister, Darla Cheshier; her niece, Tamara Sampson; and her nephew, "Cappy" Cheshier. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerry Massingill, on October 9, 2023; her cherished son, Eric Charles Van Middelem II, on November 21, 2025; and her parents, Eva Frances Vrana and Edward Vrana. Throughout her life, Joan was known as an intelligent, hardworking, generous, fun-loving, and deeply kind woman. Her warmth, laughter, and unwavering devotion to family and friends touched countless lives. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

Patricia Joan Massingill

February 29, 1944 - June 15, 2026