Gentry county Missouri, Obituaries: Lewis Henry Messner Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by: Don Raymond The Stanberry Headlight; Gentry County Missouri; Thursday, February 7, 1985; page 6: Lewis Henry Messner, 75, died unexpectedly at the Stanberry Medical Clinic in Stanberry, January 29, 1985. He was the son of the late George Lewis and Eva Cora Bishop Messner. Born March 22, 1909 in Cowley County, Ks. At the age of two, the family moved to the Ravenwood/Alanthus Grove area. Most of his life was spent as an active farmer in the Stanberry area, except for three and a half years spent in California during the early 1950's. While in California he was engaged in fencing. He was the 1942 Gentry County Corn Shucking Champion. This award entitled him to compete for the state title in Marshall, Mo. He placed third in the state competition. He was also the northwest Missouri Plowing Match winner in 1948. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Stanberry, Mo. He was married on June 26, 1937, to Velma Arlene Miller, at Santa Rosa, Mo. To this union two children were born, Lewis George Messner and Judith Kay Messner. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Judith Kay, and two brothers, Mel and Leonard. Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Lewis George Messner, Stanberry; one daughter-in-law, Beverly Messner, Stanberry; one grandson, Richard Lewis Messner, Stanberry; six brothers, Gilbert Messner, Gentry; Earnest Messner, Albany; Fred Messner, Agency, Mo.; John Messner, Los Angeles, Ca.; Whitmur and Marvin Messner, both of Stanberry; four sisters, Frona Johnson, Stanberry; O'Dessie Kiser, Los Angeles, CA.; Elsie Strange, Orange, Ca.; Mary Ray, Los Angeles, Ca.; 34 nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Thursday, January 31, 1985 at the First Baptist Church in Stanberry under the direction of the Johnson Funeral Home. The Rev. Dick Lionberger officiating. Mickey Miller sang "He Touched Me" and "How Great Thou Art" and was accompanied by his wife, Gwen on the organ. Pallbearers for interment in High Ridge Cemetery at Stanberry were his nephews.