Mary Tate Messec

MESSEC, Mary Tate Age 91, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, in Rio Rancho, NM. She was born Mary Lamont Tate in Baltimore, MD, August 7, 1922. Mary grew up in Baltimore with two older and two younger brothers. Raised in a naval family, she lived life “full steam ahead.” She graduated early from Forest Park High School in December 1940 and attended Bard-Avon School. At 19, she traveled across the country and sailed to Hawaii in October 1941. She was still on Oahu, as a volunteer worker, on December 7, 1941. Opting to remain in Hawaii after the U.S. entered the war; she landed a Civil Service job as a secretary to the navy dispersing officer, remaining an additional 18 months. In 1946, Mary applied for another Civil Service position and was sent to Berlin, Germany. There she traveled extensively throughout Europe as the secretary to the Executive of the OMGUS, POW and Displaced Persons Division. In the spring of 1947, Mary married the love of her life, said Executive: Colonel (Army) Harry S. Messec. Mary spent the next 13 years as an Army Colonel’s wife, moving to different posts (including two years in Japan), being the social hostess, and rooting for the Navy during the annual Army Navy football games. During that time, Mary and Harry had four children. Back in Maryland after returning from Japan, the family settled in Baltimore after Harry retired in 1960. She was active in the PTA, car-pools, politics, and continued being quite the social hostess. For a few years while Harry finished a BA at Johns Hopkins University she held a job as a secretary for a USGS project at JHU. The family moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1967. Mary made enduring friendships in short order. Her relationships and interests included a deep involvement with the Albuquerque Academy, lifelong membership in the Daughters of the British Empire (DBE), an unquenchable interest in Southwestern culture, learning to play and love tennis, and making time for personal and public social events. Always inquisitive, she and Harry spent many hours driving around New Mexico and the surrounding states. Mary’s beloved Harry passed away in November 1980. After 25 years in New Mexico, she was left as the sole remaining Messec in the state, so Mary moved back to her beloved Maryland. She treasured being close to her brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews and spent as much time with them as possible. She also loved traveling to visit her children’s families and having them visit. For a few years, two of her sons’ families lived only a couple of hours away, making regular visits possible. As the Messec sons migrated back to New Mexico, Mary chose to be close to her children and grandchildren. She moved back to NM in 2004, renewing many old friendships and making new ones. She continued to be socially active, especially at the frequent family gatherings. Mary is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry S. Messec; parents, William James and Mary Lamont Tate; and brothers, William James, Norman, and Robert Tate. Survivors include one brother, Donald L. Tate; her four children and their spouses, James A. (Tony) Messec and Melissa A. Morris, Harry S. (Hal) and Tina Messec, Donald N. L. (Don) Messec and Charlene Teters, and M. Colleen Messec and Ken Cratty; seven grandchildren, C. Paige M. Messec and her husband, Nick Sydow, Jordan A. M. Messec, George and his wife, Emily Raymond, Kristal and her husband, Maciej Chichlowski, Harrison J. M. Cratty, Grace Jin Messec, and Rose Xiao Messec; and four great-grandchildren, Natalia Chichlowska, Evelyn Raymond, Monika Chichlowska, and Sebastian Sydow. A memorial service will be held Sunday, December 29, 2013, 2:00 p.m., at FRENCH – Westside. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation in the memory of Mary T. Messec be made to the Harry S. Messec Fund at the Albuquerque Academy, 6400 Wyoming Blvd, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Please visit our online guest book for Mary at www.FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH - Westside 9300 Golf Course Rd NW 505-897-0300