Lillian Francis Major Messner was born March 26, 1925, in Akron, Ohio, to Margaret and Landis Major. She left Whidbey Island to live with her daughter in Colorado in 2010 until her passing on Dec. 3, 2014.

Lillian was married to Richard Messner Sr. and moved to several different military bases with their last duty station at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. They moved to Coupeville, where Lillian resided for more than 50 years. She worked as a cashier in Oak Harbor and also at the USO, where she enjoyed serving the military personnel from the base for more than five years. She then worked at Whidbey General Hospital as a dietary aide. Her last job before retirement was with the Island County Solid Waste Department.

She enjoyed baking Christmas cookies and many departments at Island County, and Whidbey General Hospital enjoyed her big platters of cookies. She crocheted and sewed Barbie doll clothes for her grandchildren.

Lillian is survived by daughter Billie Reed (Dave) of Johnstown, Colo.; sons, Richard (Dian) Messner, of Burien, Wash., and Paul (Marilyn) Messner, of Coupeville; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was a fun, loving, happy mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother who was loved and will be greatly missed.

Please visit Lillian’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com and share thoughts and memories.