I am very sorry to be bringing you this very sad news today from England, Jack passed away yesterday at the age of 90.

Jack had been involved with Wallis and M-H "U" frame tractors from a very young age on their family farm near Stamford in Lincolnshire, he witnessed the farms transition from horses to tractors, with the help of Massey-Harris and hard work their farm evolved and grew through his earlier years. Later a M-H 744PD tractor brought them into the diesel tractor era. As time progressed a few Fordson and later Ford tractors were their work horses, together with a Caterpillar crawler, but Jack always kept his affection for anything M-H.
As retiremenet came upon Jack he enjoyed the old family tractors he still had around the farm and gradually built a very special collection of tractors including Wallis, M-H, Case, Oliver, Ford and Fordson, together with his interest in all M-H implements he had worked with on his farm and his passion of Steam Ploughing with his lifelong restoration of a Fowler ploughing engine (Princess) anti balance plough and Fowler living van. 
Jack even though retired was always proud to discuss tthe farm's development and how both John and Guy continued the forward thinking and development of their family farm in these very different times of today and still using Massey Ferguson tractors.

Some of you over the years have had the pleasure of meeting both Jack and Judy at their home, together with your personal memories of the visits to Jack's "workshop" as he called it to view his treasured collection and passion for all things of "Agricultural and local Heritage".

Jack thoroughly enjoyed his later years sitting at his desk with his computer and participating on the Massey Collectors website with his "Worldwide Massey Friends", this together with his passion for both Country Music and the Royal Air Force gave Jack a lot of pleasure.

For me personally I am very sad to loose a "Massey-Harris friend", Jack was a very knowledgable, kind and helpful man, always there to share a "Massey problem" during restoration projects or times when a tractor would not start, his knowledge of working  "U" frame tractors in their day was tremendous. We had some great Massey trips together over recent years to locations in England, Wales and Scotland.

Please keep Judy, their children John, Jo, Jenny and Guy with their respective families in your thoughts over the coming days and weeks. 

Rest In Peace Jack.

Malcolm









 

Malcolm, I am so sorry to hear this news. I know we all know our day is comming but we always think it is long off.  Jack was truely one of the best. If you ever wanted to know anything Massey or Wallis just ask and he could roll it off his tongue without hesitation. I am so glad it fit into our schedule and we got the opportunity to see him and Judy last August. 
Jack and Judy were the most kindest and best hosts you could ever ask for. If you left their place hungry or short of knowlege it's your own fault. I really loved the workshop tour and seeing the one and only "56"  inch MH GP I know to exist to date.

Malcolm, along with Judy and family you are also in our thoughts. I know just how much Jack meant to you as he was like your "Massey Dad". Jack was truely one a kind and will be truely missed even on this side of the pond.

Rest in Peace Jack.

Joe & Jo Jo

Today was Jack's funeral in Little Bytham church just across the street from Jack's home, his request was to have a "happy and joyous" day, so the usual English tradition of wearing black clothes at a funeral was exchanged for everyones individual choice of dress. What a lovely service it was with no sadness, the family had spent a lot of time helping prepare "The Eulogy" of his life from being born up to his death.
It was very pleasing to hear "Massey Collectors Association of the USA mentioned and the friendships he had made on both sides of the Atlantic over recent years of building up his passion for Wallis and M-H plus other makes used on the farm in his collection". Also the pleasure this website gave him in the very recent times of him not bing so mobile to get out into the workshop. So I personally say, thankyou MCA this website is invaluable in so many ways we don't realise.
After the private family burial in the churchyard the village hall was open to welcome everyone, a wonderful spread of food had been prepared and there many stories were exchanged from family members through to local people and of course his "old iron collector friends" plus many others from all walks of life who he had known over his long life.

What a wonderful and very special "goodbye" to one of the most genuine Massey Collector's I have met, it really was a "celebration of life today".

Donations received are being given to two local charities, the St Barnabas Hospice at Home and the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. Thankyou all Massey collectors in both the USA and the UK for your contributions.

Rest in Massey-Harris Peace Jack.

 

Thank you Malcolm for sharing Jack's "I'll do it my way" service.  I am sure he was smiling down on all those in attendance but especially enjoying the strong spirit of Judy.  Jack enjoyed his tractors but, like us all, he especially enjoyed the people he connected with because of the tractors.  He will be missed by all of us who knew him but we also know he is pain-free and seeing many of his Massey friends on the side.

I know Judy has a family and lots of friends but please watch over her for all of us.  Of course, that should be the role of their favorrite pseudo-son!

Thank you Malcolm!

Rest in Peace dear friend Jack Turner.

Gary & Ony Emsweller