J.D. Messer

Mills River – J.D. Messer, 75, of Mills River, died Thursday, June 14, 2007 at the Elizabeth House after a brief illness. A native of Haywood County, he was a son of Dave Messer of Waynesville and of the late Burr Franklin Messer. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Jahue Messer. Mr. Messer was retired from Cranston Print Works. He attended Arden Missionary Baptist Church and loved hunting, fishing, the outdoors and gardening. He is survived by his loving wife, Dora Freeman Messer; one daughter, Linda Morgan and her husband, Albert of Pisgah Forest; five sons, Larry Messer and his wife, Judy of Arden, Charles Messer and his wife, Sheila of Fletcher, Jerry Messer and his wife, Sandi of Mills River, Rick Messer of Hendersonville and Jimmy Messer and his wife, Aliza of Charlotte. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Pauline Wynn of Columbia, SC, Betty Price of Waynesville and Aileen Marshall of Hendersonville and two brothers, Jarvis Messer of Waynesville and Ray Messer of Hendersonville. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, June 17, 2007 at Arden Missionary Baptist Church with the Revs. Jimmy Taylor and Jeff Wilkie officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 PM on Saturday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 581 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.