Zora Messer

Zora Conard Messer, age 94, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at her residence with her family by her side. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was a daughter of the late Glen Wesley and Bertha Bell Morrow Conard. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thad Bryson Messer, Sr., who died in 1980; one daughter, Eula May Messer; and two sons, William Robert and Charles E. Messer; one sister, Hazel Haney; two brothers, Raymond and Harrison Conard; three grandchildren, Joey Gaddis, Vicky Holland, and Laynette Messer Case. Zora was a devout Christian and a member of Center Pigeon Baptist Church. Zora will be remembered as a willing servant of the Lord and loved sharing her faith through teaching and service to others. Zora was gifted with creating crafts, especially known for her quilting and needle work. She also enjoyed flowers and working in her garden. Zora was loved by all who knew her and always carried a smile on her face and enjoyed a good belly laugh. Above all was her family whom she delighted in and especially spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by three daughters, Lois R. Holland of Franklin, Mary Ellen Gaddis and her husband, Reverend Robert Gaddis, of Canton, and Judith Ann Grant, and her husband, Reverend J.D. Grant, of Sylva; two sons, Thad Bryson Messer, Jr. and his wife, Edna, of Canton, and Richard Messer and his wife, Judy, of Hendersonville; one sister, Wilma Sorrells of Canton; two brothers, Cecil Conard and his wife, Dora Jane, of Huntsville, Alabama, and John A. Conard and his wife, Louise, of Canton; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers and great-grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2012 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the Reverend J.D. Grant, Reverend Robert Gaddis, and Reverend Milton Hollifield officiating. Burial will follow at Crawford/Ray Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the MedWest Haywood Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721. For those who desire, an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

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