Douglas Ray Messer

Former Connersville resident, Douglas R. Messer, 60 of Dayton, Ohio died Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Grandview Hospital, Dayton, Ohio. Born in Connersville, June 10, 1958 to Edward and Mae Patton Messer, Douglas attended area schools and graduated in 1976 from Connersville High School. He served his country in the United States Navy as an Opticalman on the U.S.S. Fulton and most recently served as a Medic in the Indiana National Guard where his fellow soldiers dubbed him, Dr. Messer. In 1987, Doug graduated from Indiana University of Public Health as a certified Emergency Medical Technician and also attended John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis. Since the 1990s, he has been employed with ABF Freight as a C1 truck driver and member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local Union No. 957. Doug would have celebrated 20 years as an ABF Freight employee next month. He was a former member of Western Avenue Baptist Church, Connersville. Doug was a proud Republican and supporter of the National Rifle Association. He was artistic by nature and thoroughly appreciated painting, crafting shadow boxes and editing his photographs. Doug was a collector and a lifelong fan of The Beatles. Douglas is survived by his children: Nicholas Messer and his wife, Ellen of Evansville; Scott Messer of Dayton; Emily Messer of Connersville; his step-son: Zachary McQueen of Centerville; his grandchildren: Benjamin, Theodore and Violette Messer; his siblings: Myrna Fox and her husband, Gene; Elwanda L. King and her husband, Eddie; several nieces and nephews; his beloved American Bulldog, Honey. In addition to his parents, Douglas is preceded in death by his siblings: Mark E. Messer and Joyce Sizemore. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, July 20, 2018 at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home Friday from 1 p.m. until the time of service where memorial contributions may be made to the National Rifle Association. For additional information or to send the family condolences or memories, please visit www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com