Gary D. Messersmith, 64, Valley Falls, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, at the Colmery O’Neil Veterans Administration Medical Center in Topeka.
 He was born on July 16, 1949, at Great Bend, the son of John and Cecilia Dean Messersmith. He graduated from San Jose, CA, High School.
 Gary served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He later joined the US Army Reserves and served in the Desert Storm conflict. He retired in 2003 as a Master Sgt. E-8. He had also owned Mobile Auto Restoration. Gary was a member of American Legion Bicentennial Post 225 at Ozawkie and Countryside Baptist Church at McLouth.
He married Doris L. Hutchings on Aug. 30, 1969, at Scott City. She died on March 11, 2012. He was also preceded in death by his father, John Messersmith.
Survivors include two daughters, Karrie Ann Eckhardt, Cummings, and Alisa Gail Lansing, Valley Falls; his mother, Cecilia Messersmith, Nortonville; a brother Dean Carmen, Garden City; a sister, Carolyn Smith, Nortonville; and five grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, 2014, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Burial will follow at the Valley Falls Cemetery with military honors conducted by American Legion Bicentennial Post 225. Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday.
 Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Bicentennial Post 225 and sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Online condolences are at www.mercerfuneralhomes.com