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In Memory

Grant Messerly - Class of 1959

Grant N Messerly, 62, returned to his Heavenly Father after a long, courageous battle with cancer on Sept. 8, 2003, at his home.

Grant was born Sept. 3, 1941, in Montpelier, Idaho, to Edwin Robert and Ruth Bernice Nelson Messerly. He
was the youngest of three sons. He grew up in Montpelier and graduated from Montpelier High School in
1959. He loved football and received a scholarship to play football from Weber College, where he played for
two years and graduated with an associate degree. He then attended Utah State University, Logan, where
he played football for one quarter and graduated in 1963 with a BS in education. In 1980, he received his
master's degree in education from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

He married Carol Rosalie Cutler on March 15, 1963, in the Logan LDS Temple. After 17 months of marriage
Carol passed away on Aug. 16, 1964. Soon after, he was blessed to meet and marry Jane Newman on April
16, 1965, in the Manti, Utah Temple.

Grant had a passion for teaching and a great love for children. He began his career of 37 years teaching in
the Granite School District, where he taught for five years. In 1968, he began teaching at Emerson
Elementary in Paris and held the position of principal. In those 37 years he was also principal of Paris
Elementary, A.J. Winters Elementary, Bear Lake Middle School and Georgetown Elementary.

Grant was more than just a teacher, he was an educator. He had a love and passion for each and every
child he knew, knowing them all by their first names. In the year 2000, he took early retirement to spend
more time with his family, and to concentrate on his health.

Community service was also important to him. He was a volunteer EMT for 30 years in Bear Lake County. In
those years he served in the offices of president and vice president. He was also on the board. He was
Idaho's EMS Provider of the year in 2000.

The outdoors was a great joy in his life. He loved camping, horseback riding, motorcycle riding, Dutch-oven
cooking and farming. He was a member of the Bear Lake Rangers for many years riding trails and camping.
No summer was without a motorcycle trip with his wife and friends.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving valiantly in many
callings including elder's quorum presidency, Sunday school presidency, district Scout chairman, executive
secretary, high counselor, high priest and ward clerk in the Liberty Ward at the time of his death. He loved
to go to the temple, to do this eternal work for others and renew his covenants. It was of great comfort in his
last days. He also enjoyed singing in the ward choir, singing solos and singing with his children.
His greatest love of all was his wife and family. He always said family is what life is all about and he took full
advantage of that, loving to play with, and tease all of his children and grandchildren. He was a doting father,
grandfather and loving husband.

Grant is survived by his wife, Jane, of Sharon, Idaho; seven children, Karie Tolman of Logan, Utah, Tracie
Messerly of Montpelier, Kristie and Troy DeClark of Georgetown, Idaho, Terie and Mike Hanson of Liberty,
Idaho, Michael and Dorajo Messerly of Shelley, Idaho, Kellie Messerly of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Ryan Messerly
of Pocatello, Idaho; one brother, Robert and Virginia Messerly of Green River, Wyoming; and seven
grandchildren, Amy Tolman, Jared and Adam DeClark, James and Lyndsay Hanson, Joseph and Caleb
Messerly. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, his parents and one brother, Roger D. Messerly.

Every heart was touched by those who knew him. He left his great example and legacy for all those around
him. He will be missed.

Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 in the Liberty LDS Ward Chapel. The interment was in the Montpelier Cemetery.