James Messer, Sr.

Waynesville-God called home His faithful servant James "Jim" Calvin Messer, Sr., age 81, of Ratcliffe Cove Road, on Friday, June 17, 2005, at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. He was a native of Haywood County and was the son of the late James Western and Sallie Vess Messer. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Waynesville for 25 years, where he was an active member as a men's Sunday School Teacher, until Parkinson's disease prevented his participation. He retired from Champion after 25 years of service and was also an Electrical Contractor for several years. He was an Army veteran of WWII, having served with the 400th Engineer Maintenance Company in Italy, Philippine Islands and Japan. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Norma Deaver Messer; one daughter, Diane Bailes and her husband, David, of Charlotte, NC; two sons, Jeff Messer and his wife, Janice, of Winston-Salem and Jim Messer, Jr. and his wife, Deborah, of Canton; one sister, Louise Rathbone and her husband, Frank, of Waynesville; six grandchildren, Stephanie Messer and her husband, Chuck, Jeffery Messer and his wife, Ashley, James C. "Cal" Messer, III and his wife, Kimberly, Kaylan Messer, Melissa and Kristin Bailes; and two great-grandchildren, Betsey Messer and Alexis Messer. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2005, at First Baptist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Jerry Ensley, Reverend David Bailes and Reverend Dr. Robert Prince, officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett -Hillcrest Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2005 at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Serving as pallbearers will be Jeffery Messer, James C. "Cal" Messer, Roger Frady, Gary Deaver, Bill Husky, OB Matthews, Ken Deaver and Peter Zinglersen. Honorary pallbearers will be JD Deaver, Jack Deaver, Robert Justice, Stan Rathbone, David Fergerson and Art Fischer. Memorials may be made to Parkinson's Disease Association, P.O. Box 9263, Asheville, NC 28815.

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