Death of a classmate - Marshall Messinger - 14th Co.

Marshall Ray Messinger  (March 16, 1931 - November 2, 2017)

Ray passed away at home surrounded by his loving family in Navarre, FL November 2, 2017.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marshall Blake and Drucilla Messinger, brother Everett K. Messinger, and first cousin Howard Hodges of Pacific Grove.

He is survived by his wife Elisbeth (Libby), daughter Jennifer Pruitt of Navarre, sons Timothy Blake/Ina Messinger, Michael James Messinger of Navarre, grandsons Evan Pruitt of Spokane, WA and Marshall Messinger of Pacific Grove, along with his sister-in-law Faye Messinger of Carmel Valley.

Ray attended schools in Monterey, graduating with the Class of 1949. He attended Monterey Peninsula College, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He met his future wife Libby in Bermuda on Christmas leave and they were married in Washington, D.C. in June of 1954 after his graduation.

His first duty station was in Coronado, CA. He attended the Naval Justice School in Newport, RI, then returned to California, serving on two other ships out of San Diego and Guam. He retired in late 1959, returning to Monterey and joined the Naval Reserve station for 16 years, being commanding officer of the station from 1970 to 1975. He retired as a Commander in 1975.

He worked for Thomas H. French Glass Co., Inc. along with his brother and sister-in-law for 32 years.

Ray played tennis all his life, ranking fifth in Northern California as a teenager, was caption of the U.S. Naval Academy tennis team for three years, and continuing to play with his brother and friends until he moved to Navarre in 2005. He enjoyed golf, woodworking and building projects at his home in Monterey and Cabin at Whiterock in Carmel Valley.

Ray and Libby enjoyed their trailer trips and time spent at their cabin in Whiterock with family and friends, fishing with sons and grandsons, along with helping on various work parties for the club.

Ray was an Eagle Scout in Troop 2, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, along with his brother Everett. Later he became scoutmaster and his son Michael also became an Eagle Scout during that time in Troop 2.

The family will be bringing Ray's ashes back to Monterey, the town he loved, in the spring to be scattered at Monterey Bay.

Published in The Monterey Herald on Dec. 21, 2017