Billie Jo Messer

Billie Jo Messer was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 3, 2016, at 5 PM. Billie Jo was born on February 1, 1932, daughter of William M. Moore and Susan Housley Moore, both deceased, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Billie’s sister, Bette Sue Moore Coleman, deceased, also lived in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Billie Jo was married on September 20, 1953, to her life-long love, Lt. Colonel Duane A. Messer, U.S. Army Retired, now deceased. A well-known and talented soloist throughout her youth, she sang at many weddings and events before she graduated one of five valedictorians from Hot Springs High School in 1949. Billie Jo earned a BA in English with High Honors from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1953, and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.

After recording one record, Billie Jo married Duane and returned to college to pursue graduate education. She and her husband taught at a high school in Neosho, Missouri. After a hiatus from teaching during which she raised four daughters, she returned to teaching at Lakeside High School, and retired in 1996.

In retirement, Billie Jo was involved in many Christian community service activities, bringing food, support and money to folks who were in need.

Billie Jo is survived by her niece, Susan Coleman-West, and her children: Becky and son-in-law Dan, Lisa, Rachel and her partner Natacha, and Joanna.

Billie Jo’s grandchildren are: Paul and wife Abigail and their son Henry, Aaron and wife Sara Rose, Elena, Evan, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Hayden, and Benjamin.

Billie Jo’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Manjusha Kota along with Mecca, Charity, Trish, Marsha, Shawna, Kathryn, and Nancy at CHI Quality Management.

Visitation will be held at Gross Funeral home on Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Funeral service will take place Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. at Gross Funeral Home and interment will be on Thursday at 10:00 A.M. at the Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery in North Little Rock.

Pallbearers are Rachel Messer, Adam Richardson, Mike Jared, Rob Young, Sean Barnard, Jacob Crumpler, Dan Dixon, and Evan Dixon.