Velma Ann Messersmith, 92, passed away peacefully at her home on March 11, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born on April 16, 1933, in Lebanon, Missouri, to Johnny Virgil McElroy and Georgia Ellen Weddle McElroy, she was preceded in death by her twin sister, Wilma Mae, who passed at birth, as well as her siblings James Dean McElroy and Thelma June McElroy Williams Gaub.
Velma was married three times. She wed Junior C. “Jay” Wyatt on August 19, 1950; he preceded her in death, as did their sons Ronald Dean Wyatt and C. Leroy Wyatt. She later married Charles J. Fear on May 14, 1956; he also preceded her in death, along with their son Charles V. Fear. In 1982 she married Leonard A. Messersmith in Lawton, Oklahoma; he preceded her in death, as did his son Michael Messersmith and Michael’s wife June.
She retired from 3M in 1998 and was a longtime member of Calvary Christian Lighthouse Church. Velma is survived by her daughter Freda A. Wyatt; stepdaughters Becky Watson and her husband Phil, and Linda Shaw; daughters-in-law Sue Ellen Wyatt, Malinda S. Wyatt, and Susan R. Fear; grandchildren Joshua D. Wyatt, Jennifer E. Wyatt, Joel C. Wyatt, Joyann A. Bowman and her husband Michael, Johnathan R. Wyatt and his wife Michelle, Melissa R. Fear, and C. Justin Fear and his wife Shannon; and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two great-granddaughters, Annabelle Grace Fear and Carmen Neely Fear.
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