Patsy Messer

Waynesville, Patsy Kelley Messer, age 74, passed away on Friday, October 9, 2015 at Mission Hospital. A native of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Robert Roy Kelley and Hazel Olene Marcus Kelley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Wayne, David, Gerald and Dan Kelley; a brother-in-law, Harold Messer and his wife, Arlene; and her beloved collie mix Hunny Girl. Patsy met and fell in love with her high school sweetheart Virgil and together they served their Lord with joyful hearts. During Virgil's college and medical school years, she worked as a bookkeeper for Wake Forest University Food Services. Patsy was a caring wife, mother and grandmother who also enjoyed her collections of porcelain dolls, angels, and pig figurines. She was a homemaker extraordinaire and a popular cake decorator. Patsy was an avid Wake Forest University and Atlanta Braves fan. She had a big heart for rescue animals, and that love provided her several cherished pets over the years. She was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Waynesville, where she formerly enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching a children's Sunday school class. Patsy was known for her sense of humor and old-time "sayings". Patsy is survived by her husband of 55 years, Dr. Virgil Messer; daughters, Malinda Messer of Waynesville and Melanie Tipping and her husband, Doug, of Ft. Worth, Texas; a son, Al Messer and his wife, April, of Asheville; a sister, Sue Mashburn and her husband, Lester, of Waynesville; seven grandchildren, Sarah, Emily and Megan Tipping and Allie, Payton, Van and Miles Messer; many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins; and her sweet black lab mix, Jenna. A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 in the Chapel of the First Baptist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Dr. Robert Prince, III officiating. A eulogy will be provided by Beverly Messer Wintenburg. Burial and committal services will follow at Ratcliffe Cove Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Ed Messer, David, Stephen, and Terry Kelley, Ricky Mashburn, Doug Cabe, Mark Carden, Bill and David Wintenburg, and Roy Moody. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Inreach - Outreach Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church of Waynesville. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to Haywood Christian Ministries, 150 Branner Avenue, Waynesville, NC 28786; Mission to the World (designated for Bruce and Pam Sinclair), P.O. Box 2589, Suwanee, GA 30024-0982; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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