Obituary of Tony Ray Messer

Funeral services for Tony Ray Messer, age 77, of Wedowee will be held on Friday, September 12, 2014, at 2:00 PM from Ava United Methodist Church with Rev. Gary Henderson, Rev. Howard Johnson, and Rev. John Tal Murphree officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery with Masonic graveside services and Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, September 11, 2014. Mr. Messer will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning on Friday. Mr. Messer passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at Kindred Health Care in Rome, Georgia. Survivors include his wife, Geneva Lester Messer of Wedowee; one daughter, Jennifer Robertson (husband, Allan) of Wedowee; two sons, Barry Lee Messer (wife, Debbie) and Tony Ray Messer, Jr. (wife, Nancy), both of Wedowee; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one brother, Joe Lee Messer of Wedowee. Pallbearers will be Don Green, Tony Heard, Trae Messer, Lee Messer, Brandon Messer, Jimmy Lee Holloway, Harold Harmon, and Bobby Bolt. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Ava Church. A Wedowee native, Mr. Messer was born on August 17, 1937, the son of James Lee and Gervis Holder Messer. He was a member of Ava United Methodist Church, a U.S. Army veteran, and owner of Wedowee Building Supply. Mr. Messer and his brother Joe had a part in the start of Benefield Funeral Home. Mr. Messer was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Carol Lynne "Toni" Messer and Cheryl Dianne Messer; and one sister, Sally D. Messer. The family is accepting flowers or, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ava United Methodist Church in Tony's memory.