Clara Estelle Messick

Clara Estelle Messick, 92, of Salisbury, passed away Sunday, Dec..19, 2021 at her home. She was born August 31, 1929 in Salisbury, NC, to Minnie Kathryn Goodman Livengood and William Archie Livengood. She attended Granite Quarry School and then worked for almost forty years in the textile industry. She married the love of her life, Allan Dewitt Messick, in 1950 and welcomed her beloved twin daughters in 1951. During their 50th wedding celebration with family, Allan declared that the happiest day in his life was when Clara agreed to marry him. She was a perfectionist seamstress and fashioned many of her own outfits. In later years, she loved working outside in her yard, literally keeping the adjoining forest free of brush. Friends and neighbors observed her and her yellow gardening cart at all times of the day. She sometimes toiled well past dark, setting up lights so she could finish her projects. Nothing delighted her more than seeing her roses thrive. For twenty years, she sold Avon products and reveled in the social interactions with her clients. She did not consider herself a cook, but despite valiant efforts on the part of her daughters, her superb poundcake and potato salad and have never been duplicated. She liked to stay busy and was always open to learning. Indeed, while in her 60’s and working full-time, she attended Rowan Technical Institute to learn how to use a computer, earning straight A’s in her courses. One of Clara’s greatest loves was her church. She was a member at Emmanuel Baptist Church for more than thirty years and was the last remaining charter member of Carmel Baptist Church, where she was a member for almost thirty years. She joyfully taught children’s Sunday School and helped with Vacation Bible School at both churches. She was an active member in the Carmel Baptist Ladies” Group, loved supporting missions and greatly enjoyed studying her Bible. There are members at Carmel today who are there because Clara invited them. She was always a blessing to those she came in contact with and was much loved by her church family. Most of all, she was devoted to serving her Lord. For many years, she “adopted” residents of long-term care facilities who did not have other family members. She faithfully visited them on Sundays at the Lutheran Home and Autumn Care and enjoyed preparing gift bags for each individual. Clara truly celebrated life’s daily joys. Christmas was her favorite time of year. She filled her home with all the decorations she had carefully collected on her jaunts to local stores. One of her last activities was observing her Christmas tree being trimmed. When it snowed, she always ran out to snap photos. Clara is survived by her two cherished daughters, Jean (Messick) Nichols of Swampscott, MA and Peggy (Messick) Tillman of Raleigh, NC and their husbands, Richard and Bill, her adored grandsons, Paul, Mark and John Tillman and their wives, Cindy, Kristen, and Sarah, along with her six great-grandchildren and two sisters, Helen Ballard and Betty Eagle. One of her greatest joys was having family visit; she was always up first in the morning, preparing pancakes. She was known to all for her loving heart and ever-present and beautiful, welcoming smile and as her oldest grandson put it, we will miss “our spunky, smiling grandma.” The family is eternally grateful to the amazing caregivers, Martie, Michelle, Lisa, Teresa, and Emily (and Ellie Mae, her special canine friend) who became family and filled her final years with joy and laughter. The family is not planning to hold a burial service at this time but will arrange a memorial later in the spring. Clara is being buried in the mausoleum at Chapel in the Pines at Rowan Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Trellis Supportive Care at 301 S Main St, Suite 105, Salisbury, NC, 28144 or to Carmel Baptist Church, PO Box 626, Salisbury, NC, 28145. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Messick family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Clara Estelle Messick

August 31, 1929 - December 19, 2021