Elmer Messer, 91, a longtime Skagit Valley resident, passed away on Friday, October 7, 2016 at the Life Care Center in Sedro-Woolley.
Elmer was born on March 9, 1925 in Jackson County, North Carolina, one of thirteen children of Hastings & Lovicia (Green) Messer. He moved to Skagit Valley at age 20, and bragged about turning 21 in Rockport.
Elmer worked as a heavy equipment operator and logging truck mechanic. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
In 1980 Elmer was united in marriage to Louisa Yeager, for 36 years.
Elmer is survived by his wife, Lou; his children, Charlie and Cleve; his step-children, Deanna (Robert), Pamela, Teresa (Brian), Tracy, Connie; a son-in-law, Bill Hoover, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by 2 sons, Roger and Kenneth Messer; a daughter, Linda Hoover; a step-daughter, Brenda Johnson and his twelve brothers and sisters.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, October 14, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley with Pastor Jim Cook officiating. Interment will follow at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Following services there will be a “potluck” at the River Gathering, 720 Puget St., Sedro-Woolley. Memorials in honor of Elmer are suggested to Catholic Community Services, 614 Peterson Road Ste. 200, Burlington, WA 98233 or Hospice of the Northwest.
Charlie & Cleve,
I’m so sorry to hear of Elmers passing. You guys have had a horrible couple years.
may God put his arms around you guys and comfort you during this sad time.
Elmer Messer was one of my Dad’s best friends. He was a fixture in our kitchen sharing coffee and stories from 5am every morning they didn’t work. Elmer had already had coffee “uptown” and brought back the skinny to Dad. There wasn’t a thing any kid or person did that escaped the table talk in our kitchen! That’s where the “dating list” was made deciding whether I could go out with this guy or not. It was mostly not!
I don’t know when the Messers moved next door (3 houses away), but their family of 5 babies werected very young.
In 1966 equipment fell on Elmer, crushing his chest and breaking his back. He finally came home from Seattle and I started helping him throughout the day because no one was there and he wasn’t able to get up. I’d go to their house, cook fried taters, drink coffee and eat the delicious doughnuts Helen made famous. Helen was working 3 jobs to make ends meet while Elmer was laid up!
He had a “traction frame” over his bed to help move around. I was huge with my unborn son Rick and I learned to chin myself on that bar while visiting!
The friendship with my parents and the Messers didn’t end when they moved to Chehalis. There wasn’t a time when they went upriver for the weekend that Elmer & Lou were bypassed.
Today, Daddy and Elmer are busy talking logging in Heaven with all the old loggers. It seems another chapter in our lives has closed and another will open. All of their relatives have been waiting years for this reunion of all reunions when Jesus meets them and welcomes them home.
God Bless you Charlie and Cleve for sharing your Dad with us. Take solace in the fact that our Dads knew Jesus, are at Peace and remain with God our Father in His Heaven. With love,
My thoughts & prayers go out to Elmer’s family. May your Family, Friends & Many Happy Memories help you in the days to come. I
diden’t know Elmer but spend many happy memories with his kids at C.H.S. Take Care Charlie & Cleve. I Care.