MESSER, M. Joan (Rettig)

M. Joan Messer died Jan. 25, 2011, at South Wind Hospice in Pratt. She was born Sept. 7, 1926, in Bartlesville, Okla., the daughter of Fredrick W. and Mildred McGhie Rettig. The family moved to Fredonia in 1929 where Fred went into the banking business and a son, Herbert Bud, was born in 1930. Joan attended school in Fredonia where she was involved in music and a member of the National Honor Society. In 1944 she attended Oklahoma College for Women for one year before transferring to Kansas University in 1945 where she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority and was chosen to join the a cappella choir. She graduated from KU in May 1948, a music and history major. In August 1948 she married Irvin Messer, a pharmacy student whom she caught while in college. They lived in Lawrence for two years until Irvin graduated, moving to Liberal, to work at Blacks Drug stores for two years where a daughter, Karen, was born. They moved from there to Ashland, where a son, Nicholas, and a daughter, Sheila, were born. In November 1958 Irvin Stub and Joan joined partners with a college friend, Everett Baker and his wife, Lorraine Axline Baker to open a drug store in Pratt, located on the corner of First and Stout, naming it Baker-Messer Drug. Joan and Irvin moved to Pratt in 1962. Joan has been an active member of the P.E.O. since 1944, past member of the A.A.U.W., member of the Methodist Church, P.R.M.C. Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, and Gourmet Cooking Club. She was an avid reader and bridge player. She was a bronze master of duplicate bridge. She performed music by playing the auto harp, singing folk songs, and singing in the church choir. She was an avid KU sports fan and followed many different sports. She is survived by her husband Irvin; a son, Nick (Sabrina) Messer, Wichita; two daughters. Karen Deda, Pratt, and Sheila Loyd, Haysville; a brother, Herbert Bud Rettig, Caldwell, Idaho; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, with Dr. Dan Ferguson presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Larrison Mortuary. Memorials may be made to South Wind Hospice in care of the mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS 67124.