Obituary of Dee Messer

Coffeyville - Dee Messer, 64, of Coffeyville, passed away Thursday (October 18, 2007) at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He was born June 10, 1943 at Joplin, Missouri to Dee L. and Florence (Weiser) Messer. He grew up in Joplin where he attended Miriam School and graduated from Joplin High School in 1961. Following high school he attended Joplin Vo-Tech. On April 11, 1964, he married Donna Gibson at Joplin, MO. Following their marriage they made their home in the Joplin area where he worked in numerous management positions and as district manager for Sav-A-Stop Inc. of Birmingham, AL. Later he managed Buyer's United Grocery Store in Joplin. In 1973, they moved to Independence, KS to open and manage the Main Dollar Store. In 1974 he began working for Farmland Industries in Coffeyville where he was employed until 2004. He was the Business Manager for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 123 in Coffeyville. He was a member of Keystone Masonic Lodge #102 A.F. & A.M. in Coffeyville, Mirza Shrine in Pittsburg, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1022 Men's Auxiliary. Dee was an avid golfer and bowlers and belonged to Coffeyville Country Club. He also was a member of the Local Workforce Investment Board in Chanute. Dee served on the Coffeyville City Commission and served as Mayor of Coffeyville. Survivors include his wife, Donna of the home; one daughter and her husband, Melissa LaVon and Rolla Newt Adey of Independence; two granddaughters, Shea Elizabeth Casurole of Coffeyville, and Sydney Cheyenne Adey of Independence; his mother, Florence of Joplin, MO; two brothers, Jackie Messer of Fort Scott, KS, and Danny Messer of Independence, MO; four sisters, Nancy McManus of Olathe, KS, Christy Carter of Braunsfield, TX, Gloria Swindoll of Fort Collins, CO, and Roseanne Messer of Leavenworth, KS; one uncle Norman Messer of Carl Junction, MO; and numerous other family members and friends. A Memorial Service will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday (October 25, 2007) in the Westside Christian Church with Reverend Mike Elrod officiating. Cremation will take place. Friends may sign the register book on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family suggests memorials to the Shiners' Crippled Children's Hospital; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Fuenral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.