U.S. Veteran
Cecil Messer , age 89 , went to be with the Lord on April 30 , 2015 .
A World War II and Korean War veteran, he was born in Cocke County and lived here with his family until he was drafted at age 18. He married in Minot, North Dakota after retiring from the US Air Force. He and Pat, his wife of 50 years, made Minot their home.
He visited Newport as often as possible until his health no longer permitted, and he never stopped referring to himself as an "old Tennessee boy." After Pat's passing two years ago, Cecil moved to the North Dakota Veterans' Home in Lisbon, North Dakota. He was of the Baptist faith.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Goodwin Messer , his parents Dave and Winnie Henderson Messer , sisters Anna McGaha, Deliah Messer Ball, and Lydia Messer Medley; brothers Thurman Messer , Edgar Messer , and A. D. Messer ; nephews William David Messer , Roy Ball, R. J. Ball, and T. D. Ball, and nieces Betty Ball Ellis, Ida Lee Ball Messer , Irolla Ball Black, and Christine Medley Pruitt.
He is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nephews, and many friends in Cocke County.
A full military service was held at the North Dakota Veterans' Home on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 , at 2:00 p.m. A memorial service was held at Pigeon Valley Baptist Church in Newport at 7:00 p.m. that same day. Brother Ransom Hall, a best friend since childhood, officiated at the memorial service.
He was laid to rest beside his wife in Minot, North Dakota on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 .
∼
WWII vet, Cecil Messer, celebrates 88th
LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA - He was a good old Cocke County boy of 18 when his invitation came from Uncle Sam to join the United States Army during World War II.
Cecil Messer, son of David and Winnie (Henderson) Messer, who now resides in Lisbon, North Dakota, turned 88 years old on Friday, March 7.
Born in the Hartford community, he grew up in Cocke County, never leaving for any length of time until his country needed him.
He traveled to Camp Weller in Georgia for his basic training and served with the 14th Armored Division from 1941 to 1945.
After finishing his basic training, he shipped out to Europe where he fought with his division in France and Germany.
Following the return of peace in 1945, Messer left the service for a short while, but then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1947.
This time he served 18 months in Okinawa and was stationed at Rapid City, South Dakota for an additional three years.
In 1952, he crossed the Pacific Ocean to Koin Freizing. After his graduation, he served in Turkey for four years.
In 1962, he was sent to Minot, North Dakota, where he remained until his retirement in 1964. He then was a Civil Service employee for an additional 12 years.
He was married to the former Patricia Goodwin, whom he met in Minot, for 43 years. She died two years ago.
He has one living brother, Edgar Messer, of White Pine, and numerous nieces and nephews, who keep in contact by phone, letters, and visits.
His deceased siblings included Delilah Ball, Anna McGaha, Lydia Medley, Thurman Messer, and A. D. Messer.
He is a faithful reader of the Newport Plain Talk.
Cecil Messer , age 89 , went to be with the Lord on April 30 , 2015 .
A World War II and Korean War veteran, he was born in Cocke County and lived here with his family until he was drafted at age 18. He married in Minot, North Dakota after retiring from the US Air Force. He and Pat, his wife of 50 years, made Minot their home.
He visited Newport as often as possible until his health no longer permitted, and he never stopped referring to himself as an "old Tennessee boy." After Pat's passing two years ago, Cecil moved to the North Dakota Veterans' Home in Lisbon, North Dakota. He was of the Baptist faith.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Goodwin Messer , his parents Dave and Winnie Henderson Messer , sisters Anna McGaha, Deliah Messer Ball, and Lydia Messer Medley; brothers Thurman Messer , Edgar Messer , and A. D. Messer ; nephews William David Messer , Roy Ball, R. J. Ball, and T. D. Ball, and nieces Betty Ball Ellis, Ida Lee Ball Messer , Irolla Ball Black, and Christine Medley Pruitt.
He is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nephews, and many friends in Cocke County.
A full military service was held at the North Dakota Veterans' Home on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 , at 2:00 p.m. A memorial service was held at Pigeon Valley Baptist Church in Newport at 7:00 p.m. that same day. Brother Ransom Hall, a best friend since childhood, officiated at the memorial service.
He was laid to rest beside his wife in Minot, North Dakota on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 .
∼
WWII vet, Cecil Messer, celebrates 88th
LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA - He was a good old Cocke County boy of 18 when his invitation came from Uncle Sam to join the United States Army during World War II.
Cecil Messer, son of David and Winnie (Henderson) Messer, who now resides in Lisbon, North Dakota, turned 88 years old on Friday, March 7.
Born in the Hartford community, he grew up in Cocke County, never leaving for any length of time until his country needed him.
He traveled to Camp Weller in Georgia for his basic training and served with the 14th Armored Division from 1941 to 1945.
After finishing his basic training, he shipped out to Europe where he fought with his division in France and Germany.
Following the return of peace in 1945, Messer left the service for a short while, but then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1947.
This time he served 18 months in Okinawa and was stationed at Rapid City, South Dakota for an additional three years.
In 1952, he crossed the Pacific Ocean to Koin Freizing. After his graduation, he served in Turkey for four years.
In 1962, he was sent to Minot, North Dakota, where he remained until his retirement in 1964. He then was a Civil Service employee for an additional 12 years.
He was married to the former Patricia Goodwin, whom he met in Minot, for 43 years. She died two years ago.
He has one living brother, Edgar Messer, of White Pine, and numerous nieces and nephews, who keep in contact by phone, letters, and visits.
His deceased siblings included Delilah Ball, Anna McGaha, Lydia Medley, Thurman Messer, and A. D. Messer.
He is a faithful reader of the Newport Plain Talk.
U.S. Veteran
Cecil Messer , age 89 , went to be with the Lord on April 30 , 2015 .
A World War II and Korean War veteran, he was born in Cocke County and lived here with his family until he was drafted at age 18. He married in Minot, North Dakota after retiring from the US Air Force. He and Pat, his wife of 50 years, made Minot their home.
He visited Newport as often as possible until his health no longer permitted, and he never stopped referring to himself as an "old Tennessee boy." After Pat's passing two years ago, Cecil moved to the North Dakota Veterans' Home in Lisbon, North Dakota. He was of the Baptist faith.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Goodwin Messer , his parents Dave and Winnie Henderson Messer , sisters Anna McGaha, Deliah Messer Ball, and Lydia Messer Medley; brothers Thurman Messer , Edgar Messer , and A. D. Messer ; nephews William David Messer , Roy Ball, R. J. Ball, and T. D. Ball, and nieces Betty Ball Ellis, Ida Lee Ball Messer , Irolla Ball Black, and Christine Medley Pruitt.
He is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nephews, and many friends in Cocke County.
A full military service was held at the North Dakota Veterans' Home on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 , at 2:00 p.m. A memorial service was held at Pigeon Valley Baptist Church in Newport at 7:00 p.m. that same day. Brother Ransom Hall, a best friend since childhood, officiated at the memorial service.
He was laid to rest beside his wife in Minot, North Dakota on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 .
∼
WWII vet, Cecil Messer, celebrates 88th
LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA - He was a good old Cocke County boy of 18 when his invitation came from Uncle Sam to join the United States Army during World War II.
Cecil Messer, son of David and Winnie (Henderson) Messer, who now resides in Lisbon, North Dakota, turned 88 years old on Friday, March 7.
Born in the Hartford community, he grew up in Cocke County, never leaving for any length of time until his country needed him.
He traveled to Camp Weller in Georgia for his basic training and served with the 14th Armored Division from 1941 to 1945.
After finishing his basic training, he shipped out to Europe where he fought with his division in France and Germany.
Following the return of peace in 1945, Messer left the service for a short while, but then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1947.
This time he served 18 months in Okinawa and was stationed at Rapid City, South Dakota for an additional three years.
In 1952, he crossed the Pacific Ocean to Koin Freizing. After his graduation, he served in Turkey for four years.
In 1962, he was sent to Minot, North Dakota, where he remained until his retirement in 1964. He then was a Civil Service employee for an additional 12 years.
He was married to the former Patricia Goodwin, whom he met in Minot, for 43 years. She died two years ago.
He has one living brother, Edgar Messer, of White Pine, and numerous nieces and nephews, who keep in contact by phone, letters, and visits.
His deceased siblings included Delilah Ball, Anna McGaha, Lydia Medley, Thurman Messer, and A. D. Messer.
He is a faithful reader of the Newport Plain Talk.
Cecil Messer , age 89 , went to be with the Lord on April 30 , 2015 .
A World War II and Korean War veteran, he was born in Cocke County and lived here with his family until he was drafted at age 18. He married in Minot, North Dakota after retiring from the US Air Force. He and Pat, his wife of 50 years, made Minot their home.
He visited Newport as often as possible until his health no longer permitted, and he never stopped referring to himself as an "old Tennessee boy." After Pat's passing two years ago, Cecil moved to the North Dakota Veterans' Home in Lisbon, North Dakota. He was of the Baptist faith.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Goodwin Messer , his parents Dave and Winnie Henderson Messer , sisters Anna McGaha, Deliah Messer Ball, and Lydia Messer Medley; brothers Thurman Messer , Edgar Messer , and A. D. Messer ; nephews William David Messer , Roy Ball, R. J. Ball, and T. D. Ball, and nieces Betty Ball Ellis, Ida Lee Ball Messer , Irolla Ball Black, and Christine Medley Pruitt.
He is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nephews, and many friends in Cocke County.
A full military service was held at the North Dakota Veterans' Home on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 , at 2:00 p.m. A memorial service was held at Pigeon Valley Baptist Church in Newport at 7:00 p.m. that same day. Brother Ransom Hall, a best friend since childhood, officiated at the memorial service.
He was laid to rest beside his wife in Minot, North Dakota on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 .
∼
WWII vet, Cecil Messer, celebrates 88th
LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA - He was a good old Cocke County boy of 18 when his invitation came from Uncle Sam to join the United States Army during World War II.
Cecil Messer, son of David and Winnie (Henderson) Messer, who now resides in Lisbon, North Dakota, turned 88 years old on Friday, March 7.
Born in the Hartford community, he grew up in Cocke County, never leaving for any length of time until his country needed him.
He traveled to Camp Weller in Georgia for his basic training and served with the 14th Armored Division from 1941 to 1945.
After finishing his basic training, he shipped out to Europe where he fought with his division in France and Germany.
Following the return of peace in 1945, Messer left the service for a short while, but then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1947.
This time he served 18 months in Okinawa and was stationed at Rapid City, South Dakota for an additional three years.
In 1952, he crossed the Pacific Ocean to Koin Freizing. After his graduation, he served in Turkey for four years.
In 1962, he was sent to Minot, North Dakota, where he remained until his retirement in 1964. He then was a Civil Service employee for an additional 12 years.
He was married to the former Patricia Goodwin, whom he met in Minot, for 43 years. She died two years ago.
He has one living brother, Edgar Messer, of White Pine, and numerous nieces and nephews, who keep in contact by phone, letters, and visits.
His deceased siblings included Delilah Ball, Anna McGaha, Lydia Medley, Thurman Messer, and A. D. Messer.
He is a faithful reader of the Newport Plain Talk.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
