Eric Gene Messer

Eric Gene Messer, 36, of OKC passed from this life on January 15, 2018. Services have been entrusted to the care of Advantage Funeral Service and a service celebrating his life will be held at 1pm at Truth

Church in Norman, OK on Saturday, January 20, 2018 with burial to follow at Resthaven Memory

Gardens. Public visitation will be held on Friday, January 19, 2018 from 10am to 8pm at the funeral

home.

Eric was born on Sept 13, 1981 in Wichita Falls, TX. He attended elementary school in Graham, TX and

graduated from North Crowley High School in 2000, where he played basketball and baseball. He began

working as a sports broadcaster for a talk radio station in Lawton, OK, but shortly after 9-11 he enlisted

in the US NAVY. He attended basic training in Chicago, IL and was stationed in Norfolk, VA. He began

his career as a Gunner’s Mate and also served as a Military Police Officer, serving aboard the USS

Eisenhour in the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific. While in the Navy he met and married Ashley

Chaplain and in 2007 they had a son, Dominik Messer, who was his father’s pride and joy. Follow his four

years in the US Navy, Eric spent an additional four years in the US Navy Reserve.

Eric attended the University of Cazenovia in NY where he received his Associates Degree in Sports

Management. He went on to play professional baseball for the London Mets, coached for their minor

league team, and attended the University of East London where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in

Exercise Science. During the off season and between semesters he returned to the States where he

worked as a personal trainer. In 2016 he met Kylie Ruiz and the two were set to be married on Oct 20,

2018. Eric has been working as a trainer at the Gold’s Gym in NW and SW OKC where he has made many wonderful friends and clients.

Eric was a fun-loving guy who enjoyed playing sports and supporting his Texas Tech Red Raiders, Dallas

Mav’s, Dallas Cowboys, and the Texas Rangers. Fitness was a high priority and he was so proud of the

gains his little brother Trever was making under Eric’s guidance. He also enjoyed playing video games,

board games with his family, hanging out with his friends. Eric loved playing basketball and would always challenge his brother Trever in a game. Eric also loved acting silly with his sister Shauna and took pride in guiding her through life.

Eric loved nature and loved to preserve it . He could not even ever kill a bug. Eric had a favorite thing to do that he said was calming to him. It was to water the grass and he would always pick an area in the yard that he would favor and stand there with the water hose and water it so much that we could always tell what area it was!! He also would always try to grow some sort of different vegetable each year using his own method he thought was best after reading about it on line.

Eric was full of adventures! Over the past few years Eric has been exploring a new interest, acting. He has accepted several small rolls in several films shot in London and had also been working on convincing Trever to audition for projects here in OKC. That was who Eric was, if he found something good, he wanted to share it with those around him.

Those who knew Eric well knew that he had a profound love and sense of pride for his son Dominik.

While working in London and Oklahoma City, Eric would facetime his son and he had made plans to

move to NY to be closer to him. They enjoyed talking, playing together. Family was important to Eric and

he was never happier than when he was spending time with his son Dominik and family. Eric Messer was

a talented athlete, a hard-working trainer, a protective father, a loyal fiancé, a loving son, a loving

brother, and a trusted friend who left an unmistakable mark on the lives of those whose life he touched.

He packed a tremendous amount of good memories into his short 36 years and he will be greatly missed

by all who knew him.

Eric was preceded in death by his biological father Butch Rich; his “Mimi” Gloria Stone; his uncles Danny

Messer and Bob Miller; his aunt Kay Reed. He is survived by his mother Connie Kramer

and step-father Steve; father Ricky Messer and step-mother Kelsey; son Dominik Messer; sister Shauna

Van Buskirk; brother Trever Messer and Kyson Messer step brothers Kelton and Cody; sister-in-law

Darneisha Messer; sister Toni Hinds; brother-in-law Ollie Hinds; grandparents Don and Joan Messer , aunts: Michele Miller, Gloria “Chickie” Franklin, Aunts DeDe Rich Alderman; Vicki Groll, Tracey Galecki, and Charlotte Morris ; uncles: Tony Rich, Tim Messer, and Jack Reed; Nieces and nephews: Payton Maddox, Brycen Maddox, Jacoby Van Buskirk, Brenlee Messer, Brexten Messer, and Leo Hinds; Fiance Kylie Ruiz as well as numerous cousins and other special family members and dear friends.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.advantageokc.com