Shannon ?Buddy? Messer, 88, passed away Monday, May 23, 2011, at his home.
Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Bridge City. Officiating will be Reverend J.W. Harrell of United Pentecostal Church of Bridge City and Shannon?s nephew, Reverend Dennis Clark of New Caney Pentecostal Church of God. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City with Military Honors.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the funeral home in Bridge City.
Born in Oakdale, Louisiana on March 30, 1923, Shannon was the son of John Franklin and Rhoda Bond Messer of Groves. Shannon graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and married Thelma Lorene Plummer in 1941. Shannon was a World War II Veteran in the Merchant Marines. At the age of 17, he steered his ship through the Panama Canal. He was supervisor at Goodrich Gulf was previous owner of the Penny Record from 1987 to 1993; Shannon Messer Real Estate; Yard Lites, Etc.; J & S Battery Service; Motel 96,; T.V. Repair Shop; and Burger Town.
His awards included: War Shipping Administration Pacific War Zone Bar; Atlantic War Zone Bar; and the Merchant Marine Emblem; Honorary Rotarian, Paul Harris Fellow through the Bridge City Rotary Club; Bridge City?s Citizens of the year through the Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Commerce?s Father of the Year; Chamber of Commerce?s Small Business Person of the Year.
Shannon donated office space for the very first Chamber of Commerce building in Bridge City. He was a Master Electrician with the IBEW Union; a member of the Rotary Club; Chamber of Commerce; Lions Club; and the Groves Police Department Reserve.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Thelma Messer of Bridge City; son, John Lason of Paducah, Kentucky; grandchildren, Lacen Self and Shohn Zirlott of Bridge City; sisters, Lucille Brown of Bridge City and Clotilde Guidroz of Groves; son-in-law, Donald Swearingen of Bridge City; and companion, Drucilla Harvey of Bridge City.
Shannon is survived by his daughter, Sharon Self Boling and husband, David of Bridge City; son, Dr. Shannon Mark Messer and wife, Rebecca of Bridge City; daughters, Thelma Williams Swearingen of Bridge City, Karen Messer Meaux and husband, Ellic of Bridge City, Judy Benfield Schrumpf and husband, Jackson of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Rebeccah Messer Picard and husband, Paul of Panama City, Florida.
He is also survived by his sisters, Sarah Hammett and husband, Jimmy of Deadwood, South Dakota and Jimmie Lee Hillburn and husband, Lavon of Hatch New Mexico. 15 grandchildren; Shannon Bruce and Wesley Self, Marcy, Marlon and Jeremy Messer, Austin and Travis Williams, Shae White and Samantha Eberly, Shannon Meaux and Tracy Hargrave, Amy Taylor and Amber Ferguson, Shan Zirlott and Jimmy Picard; 16 great-grandchildren; and 1 great great-grandchild.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Wesley Self, Marlon Messer, Shannon Meaux, Jeremy Messer, Austin Williams, Travis Williams and Jimmy Picard.
Those wishing to make donations may be made to a charity of the donor?s choice.