Virginia Ruth Messick went home to be with the Lord on Monday Jan. 30, 2012. She passed away in her home surrounded by those who loved her. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Celebration of Life will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Sean Cole officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Virginia was born on Nov. 7, 1929, in rural Jennings, Okla., to Robert John and Clara Alice (Tattershall) Morris. She was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as her personal Savior at age 9. She spent the rest of her life serving Him by serving others. She attended schools in the Tulsa, Okla., area and graduated from Seminole High School.

On Jan. 2, 1952 she was married to Leonard Messick in Oklahoma City, Okla. The couple built their lives and raised their family in Sterling. Virginia was the manager at the Bible Lighthouse for 24 years before retiring due to poor health. She was a long time member at Emmanuel Baptist Church where she enjoyed teaching children for many years. Virginia will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Virginia is survived by her sister, Juanita Nix and husband Gene of Cleveland, Okla.; sister, Mary Stanford and husband John of Oklahoma City; children, Ken Messick and wife Tracey of Cheyenne, Wyo., Peggy Meis and husband Clayton, and Patricia Messick of Sterling, Steve Messick of Greeley, and Pamela Scott of Coweta, Okla.; 18 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leonard; her parents, Robert and Clara Morris; stepmother, Jennie Morris; brother, Robert Junior Morris; step-sisters, Thelma Biggs and Viola Hall; daughter, Connie Kelly; nephew, Timothy Stanford; and grandson, Mark Messick.

Memorials may be made to Gideon Bible Society or American Cancer Society.