John Nelson Messenger

Born on March 11, 1942, in Friona, Texas, Johnny was the youngest of nine siblings and grew up on the family farm. After high school, he went on to earn both a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from West Texas State University. It was there he met the love of his life, Anita Faye Wimberley, and the two married on August 28, 1965. Their union lasted nearly 59 years until Anita's passing on April 4, 2024.

Johnny and Anita lived in Hereford and Austin before settling in Houston during the mid-1970s, where he transitioned from public accounting to a long corporate accounting career. He retired from SCI at the age of 72 after more than 20 years of dedicated service. Following retirement, Johnny, with the aid of his son, devoted himself to caring for Anita until her passing. He was an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction and a lover of jazz and classical music. Intelligent, kind, patient, and humble, he loved many in both action and word.

Johnny was a proud father to Nelson Messenger and daughter in law Natalie Messenger, and a devoted grandfather to Jacey, Tiffany, David, and Steven. He is also survived by his sisters Lucretia Gaston and Rosalie Carter. He was preceded in death by his wife Anita; his parents, George Corwin and Beulah Messenger; brothers Steve, Ralph, Floyd, Lloyd, Roy, and Kenneth Hart; and sisters Nancy Noggler, Elsie Larson, and Jacqueline Hart.

Johnny was a longtime member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church. May he rest now in the loving arms of the Lord, reunited with Anita and all those who went before him.

A graveside service for both Johnny and Anita will be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 26, 2026, at Brookside Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039. Please arrive by 9:30 a.m. and gather in the hospitality room prior to the service. An informal lunch gathering will follow around noon at Cactus Cove, 3333 West 11th St., Houston, TX 77008, with a celebration of life at 3pm for Johnny at the chapel at Chapelwood UMC, 11140 Greenbay St., Houston, TX 77024.