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- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 192.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 5 Sep 2007.
Benefit set for Del Rio man Saturday
PHOTO SUBMITTED Piney Grove Baptist Church will host a benefit for Bobby Gene Messer on Saturday, Sept. 8. Messer is shown with his wife, Thelma. The benefit will begin at 4 p.m.
By: KATHY HEMSWORTH
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
09-05-2007
DEL RIO--A benefit has been set for Saturday, Sept. 8, at Piney Grove Baptist Church for a Del Rio man suffering from liver disease. Bobby Gene Messer suffers from cirrhosis of the liver and emphysema. He has Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited disorder that can cause lung disease in adults and liver disease in adults and children.
"This is a hereditary disease and is not caused by drinking alcohol," his daughter, Kathy Bible, explained.
She explained her father has been on the national liver transplant waiting list for about four years.
She said her sister, Teresa Williams, was tested to do the living donor transplant. Although her sister proved a match, her father was unable to proceed with the transplant because of problems with his emphysema at that time. Messer previously worked at Arapahoe and Great Lakes Chemical Company. "All proceeds raised from this event will go toward his medical expenses and travel expenses," Bible explained.
She said her family has taken several trips to Nashville for medical appointments for her father during the last few years.
Bobby Gene is married to Thelma Messer. They have four children, Kathy Bible, Ricky Messer, J.D. Messer, and Teresa Williams. They have seven grandchildren. The benefit will begin with a hot dog supper from 4 to 6 p.m. Music will be provided by the Norman Smith Family for about 20 minutes.
At 6 p.m., an auction will begin. There will be a variety of items donated by local businesses and individuals available for purchase.
Items will include a basket with a camping and hunting theme donated by Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice and a basket filled with newborn baby items courtesy of Newport Pediatrics.
There will be other themed baskets and inspirational baskets as well. Messer is chair of the board of deacons at Piney Grove Baptist Church. Everyone is invited to attend the benefit.
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 286.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 3 Mar 2008.
Another chance for life
(c)2008 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL Bobby Gene Messer, at left, is with his pastor, Bill Murr, of Piney Grove Baptist Church, some years ago on a visit to the Holyland. In the background are the pyramids in Egypt. The photo was made before Messer became ill.
By: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
03-02-2008
Who would have expected a late February snow in time to freeze the pea sprouts we planted on Valentine's Day in our hometown? But there it was on Wednesday morning and hanging around like February made longer by an extra day on Friday. Several days ago, I learned from my co-worker Brenda Crum that Bobby Gene Messer had undergone a liver transplant. You may recall that her husband, Bill Crum, who works for Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District, got such a transplant about 12 years ago. He is doing great. Several days ago, I learned from my co-worker Brenda Crum that Bobby Gene Messer had undergone a liver transplant. You may recall that her husband, Bill Crum, who works for Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District, got such a transplant about 12 years ago. He is doing great.
In fact, Bill and Brenda were in Nashville last Monday and visited with the family at a Extended Stay Suites hotel near Vanderbilt University Medical Center where the transplant was performed. Bill had his transplant in Dec. 1996 after catastrophic liver failure and must have periodic examinations at Vanderbilt. I was able to talk to Bobby on Thursday by phone and I'll tell you what he said, but let me give you some background information.
You and I see people all the time and may be unaware of family connections. If you were born here, growing up you are more apt to know these folks than I would. I found out that Sue Suggs, who had worked for many years at Overholt's Hardware, is a sister to Bobby. So, I called Sue at Northport Baptist Church. She has been helping the church for more than a year, which is why you don't see her at the hardware store with Hubert Willis and Lynn. In addition to Bobby and Sue the other children are Clyde, of Del Rio, and Mary Stewart, of Sisterville, West Virginia. They are the children of the late Brown Messer and his wife, Lucy Messer, who stays at home but spends some time with Sue and husband, Chester.
Brown was a farmer at Tom's Creek and later worked for the Cocke County Highway Dept. He died in 1997. Sue tells me a funny story about Tom's Creek when kidded by family that she lived so far in the sticks she "lived at the last stick." During the years, I may have bumped into Bobby because we have mutual friends, such as the Rev. Bill Murr. These men worked at Great Lakes Chemical Corp. at the time of its demise. For the past 10 years, Bobby has also operated the sawmill off Highway 107 not far from Seay's restaurant.
Perhaps four years ago, he started becoming ill and was diagnosed as having a rare immune deficiency disease. Of course the decline in his health has forced him to spend most of his time at home. His children have been quite concerned and supportive. They are, with the exception of Kathy Bible, all ConAgra employees: Ricky Messer, J.D. Messer, and Theresa Williams. Kathy, with whom I talked on Thursday, has been with Newport Pediatrics for 18 years.
On February 1, Bobby celebrated his 67th birthday but the family calls transplant day, February 5, "Super Tuesday" for them as it has given Dad a new life. The staples from the surgery were removed last week and in about two weeks he should be on his way home.
The family was so excited when they learned a liver was available "they beat the liver to Nashville by one hour." They also arrived in time for the tornadoes blowing through the area sending a fright through patients in the hospital halls. Everything has gone smoothly, no complications. The Piney Grove Baptist church family has been praying and supportive. They sponsored a fundraiser last fall. I asked Bobby what he looks forward to doing when he has his strength and health back and he said "to work at the sawmill." Being a lumber lover, I hope to see him cut that first log back home this spring.
Mid last week, the Plain Talk got a visit from the Newport Fire Dept. No, we weren't doing any illegal burning out back, but there is a transition taking place soon that accounted for the meeting. Fire Inspector Mansfield McMahan was accompanied by Jeremy Shelton. I learned that Mansfield plans to retire on March 17, just a day before his sixty-second birthday. He said the McMahan family members have not been noted for their longevity so he planned to cease work and do something different, including drawing some well-earned retirement pay. As part of the transition, he is introducing his successor, Jeremy, to local businesses. One of the crucial tasks for fire dept. leaders is to know the buildings they may have to enter at the worst of times: at night during a fire. Jeremy, who is married to Julie, has been with the dept. for 10 years. During the March meeting of City Council, this change and Mansfield's retirement will become official. Mansfield has put in 33 years. He also explained to me his connection with the late Iliff McMahan Sr. Mansfield's father, Esmond McMahan, was a brother to Iliff's father, Creed McMahan. Once the veteran fire inspector retires, I'll let you know what he finds to do, if anything.
Another person who retired is Mary Esther Williams. National Bank of Tennessee employees honored her at Fox & Hounds banquet hall on Thursday night. She completed 44 years, but doesn't look old enough to retire. Sitting next to bank director Craig Wild, he and I chatted and chuckled. He said that friends of Mary's husband, Sammy, were wondering if she would start hanging out at Arby's with him and the others for breakfast. Sammy reportedly told her that this was the ROMEO gang-"Retired Old Men Eating Out."
In plain talk, life and weather frequently bring us surprises whether we plan for them or not.
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1941 - (83 years)
, d. 17 Oct 2008, Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee 