Gene Messer

Gene Messer, 73, of 428 Sixth Avenue, died Monday, February 09, 2004, at MedCentral Mansfield Hospital after a long battle with kidney disease. He was born September 15, 1929, in Olive Hill, Kentucky, to John Edward Messer and Ethel Tabor Messer, who preceded him in death. Gene attended Olive Hill School, and then enlisted in the United State Army during WWII serving in Germany. He came to Mansfield in 1950, working at Westinghouse Corp., Martin Steel and owning C&M Gulf Station on Lexington Avenue before beginning a 30-year career as a crane operator and roll grinder for Empire-Detroit Steel Co. He retired from Empire Detroit in 1990. Gene was a Master Mason in the Frank H. Marquis Masonic Lodge, belonged to the NRA and was active in the United Steel Workers Union Local #169. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with his family and grandchildren. Gene was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many.

He was married to the love of his life for 47 years, Edna Lois Tackett Messer, who preceded him in death on March 6, 1998. He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Sherry and Dominic Sammataro and their children, Brianna of Cleveland and Ashley of Columbus and Pam Messer and Tim Knofflock and her children, Seth, Cole and Alyson Gardner, all of Mansfield; brothers, Lavern, Jay, Curtis Lee of Olive Hill and Keith Edward of Westport, Indiana; sisters, Evelyn Foster of Chesapeake, Virginia and Lenora Messer of Grayson, Kentucky; and many special relatives and friends who loved him dearly. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Phirl, Shirley and Wayne Messer and sister, Gertrude Messer-Wilson.

Friends may call at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, Wednesday, February 11 from 6-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home, conducted Rev. Bruce Copley. Military graveside services will follow in Mansfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Richland or Ashland County Special Olympics or the Kidney Foundation.