WESTPORT
Keith E. Messer, Sr., 69, of Westport, passed away at 2:25 A.M. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Franciscan Hospice in Indianapolis. He was born on March 10, 1952 in Olive Hill, Kentucky the son of John Edward & Bessie (Hall) Messer. He was born and raised in Kentucky and had been a resident of Westport since 1973. He was a 1970 graduate of Olive Hill High School. He retired from Cummins Engine Company in 2018 after 44 years of service. He was a Union Steward at Cummins, he coached for over 30 years with Decatur County Youth Baseball and Decatur County Youth Football, where he served as past president. He was a member of the Butlerville Masonic Lodge #219 and a past member of Westport Kiwanis, and was also Boy Scout leader of #573 in Westport. He retired from the Kentucky Army National Guard after 20 years of service. Keith enjoyed being Santa Claus at Cummins and local schools. He also enjoyed baseball, flowers, gardening, hummingbirds and martins, cooking and baking, watching University of Kentucky sports and spending time with his family and grandchildren. He married Brenda Sue Oney on February 26, 1972 in Olive Hill, Kentucky and she survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Gretchen (Jon) Mitchell of Greensburg; sons, Keith (Natalie) Messer of North Vernon, Nicholas Messer of Westport and Derek (Chelsea) Messer of Columbus; sisters, Evelyn Kinzer of Norfolk, Virginia and Clarise Conn of Mobile, Alabama; brother, Curt (Jean) Messer of Georgia and grandchildren, Kyler Mitchell, Corbin Mitchell, Wyatt Messer, Saban Messer, Kendall Messer, Kendra Messer, Collin Messer, Kylynn Messer and McKenna Messer. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lanora Murphy and Gertrude Wilson; brothers, Laverne, Wayne, Shirley, Gene, Phirl and Jay Messer. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at the Bass & Gasper Funeral Home in Westport with Pastor Jay Vanderbur officiating. Burial will follow at Westport Cemetery. The family will receive visitors on Saturday, October 23 from 12:00 P.M. until time of service at 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home. We ask visitors to follow social distancing guidelines inside the funeral home and masks are recommended. Memorial contributions may be made to Cheer Fund through the funeral home. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.bassgasper.com.
