Alice Marie 'Peg' Messerall

Alice Marie “Peg” Messerall, 97, peacefully entered the presence of the Lord on Monday, September 14, 2020 at AlterCare of Louisville, OH after a long life of love and service to God and family.

Peg was born April 28, 1923 at the Smith homestead in Black Ash, PA, the third child of seven born to Elmer and Irene Smith.  Her childhood on the farm was full of both hard work, fun, and many happy memories of time spent with siblings and extended family.  After graduating from Randolph High School, Guys Mills in 1941, Peg became a nurse through the Cadet Nurse Training Program.  The war ended before she was able to serve in the Army Nurse Corps, but she went on to enjoy a long career as a registered nurse and spent many years working in Obstetrics.

She met Elwin “Alec” Messerall at church in 1945 and they were later married on Christmas Day 1946.  They were married 61 years until his death in September 2007.  Ever devoted to each other, they created a beautiful life together, moving from Illinois to Ohio and eventually back to Meadville.  They were active members of Bible Baptist Church in North Madison, Ohio and Calvary Baptist Church of Meadville. After retirement, they were able to take several trips around the country in their RV to see landmarks and national parks.  They also spent several winters in Perdido Key, Florida where they enjoyed daily walks on the beach in the early morning sun.  She was always by his side and cared for him at home for 3 years prior to his death after he became disabled due to cancer.

Peg’s hands were never idle –whether she was tending a garden, making a meal, serving at church, playing a game of scrabble or doing a puzzle, sewing a quilt, reading a book or mending a wound.  If there was a task to complete, she was going to get it done.  Her Sunday dinners, apple pies and sweet rolls will be fondly remembered forever.  During her retirement years, she began quilting and completed quilts for all of her children, grandchildren and even many of her great grandchildren.  Even in her last few months, she enjoyed working on crochet blanket projects for a local ministry to hospitals.

Always a simple farm girl at heart, she will be remembered for her easy smile and no-nonsense attitude.  You never had to wonder what Peg was thinking, because if her words didn’t tell you, her face would! She had a great sense of humor and a positive outlook, always seeing and believing the best in every situation and person.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Elwin ‘Alec’ Messerall, sister, Mildred (Elmer) Brown, brothers, Howard (Grace) Smith, Elery (Florence) Smith, Walter Smith, and Gaylord Smith, and an infant great grandson, Felix Rondy.

Peg is survived by her youngest sister, Linda (Bill) Vaughn of Paris, IL and many nieces and nephews.   Surviving also are her children and their spouses, Darlene (Ron) Cribbs of East Canton, OH, Thomas (Anne) Messerall of Alexandria, OH, Doug (Patty) Messerall of Meadville, and Dan (Holly) Messerall of Croton, OH.  She was a warm and wonderful grandma to 12 grandchildren, Ron (Kara) Cribbs, Amy (Matt) Haas, Matt (Amy) Cribbs, Alec (Tiffany) Messerall, Adam Messerall, Annie (Sam) Slabaugh, Julie (Dan) Williams, Jenn (Cory) Dunton, Jessica (Lucas) Rondy, Caleb (Sanri) Messerall, Josiah Messerall and Noah Messerall.  Peg was also a loved and cherished “Grandma Great” to her 27 great grandchildren, who were all her ‘favorites’.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, September 19th from 12 to 1 p.m. at Cochranton Cemetery where a graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with the Rev. Doug Messerall, Peg’s son, officiating and assisted by the Rev. Tim Jordan, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Compassion Fund, c/o Calvary Baptist Church, 543 Randolph St., Meadville, PA 16335.

The arrangements have been entrusted to the ROBERT W. WAID FUNERAL HOME, 581 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE where memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net.