Earle Thomas (Tom) Messier

Earle Thomas (Tom) Messier, age 80, of Bedford VA, died Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at his residence after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born in Nashua, NH, on September 12, 1935, the last surviving child of the late Therese Gagnon Messier and George Henry Messier. He was educated in Nashua public schools and worked at Doehla Greeting Cards immediately after graduating from Nashua High School in 1953. He was employed for 21 years at Doehla’s, climbing the ladder quickly toward the top rung until 1974, when he accepted the position as general manager at Southern Flavoring Company and moved his family to Bedford, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings and his daughter: Elizabeth A. Messier.

He was a member of numerous civic and fraternal organizations and boards in Nashua and Bedford, VA.

Tom leaves to mourn his loss, his wife of 57 years, Constance L. (Chasse) Messier; two sons, James T. (Jim) Messier and his wife, Cynthia, John P. Messier and his wife, April; son-in-law, Larry Daniel, all of Bedford, VA; twelve grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 6, 2016, at 11:00 am at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church by Father Salvador Anonuevo. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Church Cemetery in Moneta, VA. The family will receive friends at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church on Friday, August 5, 2016, from 6:00 pm-8:30 pm.

The family requests that donations be made to either the Friends of Bedford Hospice House, P.O. Box 985, Bedford, VA 24523; National D-Day Memorial Foundation, PO Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523; or Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, 1307 Oakwood St., Bedford, VA 24523.

Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral & Cremation Service, Bedford, VA (540) 586-7360.