Ernest Messer

Waynesville-Reverend Ernest Melvin Messer, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 after a lengthy illness.<br><br>A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Albert Messer and Rebecca Jane Price and stepfather, James Price. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Ernest Wayne Messer; a sister, Kate Eckenrod; a grandson, David Franklin; and a great granddaughter, Ashley Spann. He worked in the Maintenance Department for Haywood County School System for 26 years before retiring in 1989. He was a pastor for over 40 years at several churches and recently retired from Rocky Branch Freewill Baptist Church. He was a loving father and grandfather.<br><br>He is survived by his wife, Clursa Elizabeth Moody Messer; one son, Jay Messer and his wife, Donna, of Waynesville; three daughters, Dianne Messer of Candler, Ernestine Mathis and her husband, Eddie, of Waynesville, Sheila Franklin and her husband, Barry, of Waynesville; one brother, David Price; two sisters, Nancy Fish and Mae Burr Ward; and nine grandchildren, Shirlene Stone, Tanya Cogdill, Jeannie Hill, Sherri Carson, Stephanie Spann, Nicole Franklin, and Melissa, Melinda, and Sarah Messer; and eleven great grandchildren.<br><br>Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2007 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Jerry Nelson, Reverend James Mills, and Reverend Neal Roland officiating. Interment will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening at the funeral home. Serving as pallbearers will be Hugh Smith, Gene Hill, Terry Green, Red Arrington, and Edward and Junior Moody. Honorary pallbearers will be Arnold Allison, Cedrick Inman, Harry Worley, Wendell Goodson, Michael Parker, and Danny Moody.<br><br>Memorials may be made in honor of his grandson to the David Franklin Memorial Scholarship Fund, College of Architecture, UNC Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28228.

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