Louis Messmer, 99, died April 28, 2020 in Hoquiam, Washington. Lou was born to homesteaders Fred Messmer and Helen (Holmes) Messmer in Forsyth, Montana, on June 5, 1920. At the age of 3, his family moved to Aberdeen and established a home in Finch Farms on Aberdeen’s south side.

He attended a two-room primary schoolhouse, St. Mary’s School and graduated from Weatherwax High School 1937. He was president of “Side Hill Dodgers” hiking club in high school and lettered in swimming. These became lifelong activities of his. Graduating Grays Harbor Junior College 1939, he completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington.

After enlisting in the Naval Reserve he received a commission as an ensign deck officer in 1942, joined the fleet for active duty in January of 1943, and served on the aircraft carriers USS Saratoga and USS Randolph. Upon returning from 18 months service in the South Pacific he married Anna Kovar on July 31, 1944, at Treasure Island, California, where Ann was stationed as a WAVE telegrapher second class. Their romance continued until her death in 2011.

Lou completed his master’s in Botany at the UW after his Navy service. His first teaching position was in the public school at the Simpson Logging Company’s newly formed Camp Grisdale. He was principal, teacher and bus driver from 1947-1950. For four summers he served as a ranger in the Olympic National Park at the Queets, Hoh and Lake Crescent. Beginning in 1953, he taught botany, biology, marine biology, microbiology and zoology at Grays Harbor College for 33 years.

He retired in 1986 but continued to teach a spring Botany course for 16 years as emeritus faculty. Lou has remained active in many local efforts to identify and protect sensitive ecological habitats throughout western Washington. As a wetland consultant he completed over 70 projects in the Grays Harbor area. He was a Founding Fellow of the Washington Native Plant Society and a charter board member of the Washington State Nature Conservancy.

Lou and Ann raised six ‘free range kids’ in Bear Gulch, outside of Aberdeen. They grew or foraged for much of their food including keeping honey bees and ducks. The Messmer family rarely missed a razor clam dig. The garden included a wide collection of native plants.

Lou and Ann traveled the world and hosted 28 Elderhostel programs highlighting Washington’s natural environment. He was a board member of the Grays Harbor Community Clothing Bank and volunteered ever since Ann and others opened it in the early 1970’s. The Clothing Bank building was recently dedicated to Lou and Ann Messmer. Lou served as a member of the Grays Harbor Noxious Weed Board for 20 years until 2019. In 2014 the Aberdeen Daily World named him Harborite of the Year and in 2016 he shared the Polson Museum Pioneer of the Year Award with Eugene Stensager. As a member of the St. Mary’s Parish, he was active in the planning for the parish hall.

Besides community involvement, Lou cared deeply about the natural environment and was a treasured local resource in all things biological. His love of nature started at a young age when he recalled playing in the drainage ditches on the south side. He spent his teaching career at Grays Harbor College within one mile of where he was raised. Preserving the wetlands surrounding Grays Harbor was especially important to Lou. He was active in public processes speaking and writing on behalf of preservation of the natural environment. He inspired many through his teaching and field trips. Thousands of students will remember Lou’s biology classes and his favorite Spring Botany class. Anyone who knew him will remember his subtle puns.

Survivors are: His brother Fred H. Messmer, born June 6 1923, Burlington, Washington Children: Bill Messmer (Marlene), Wrangell, Alaska, Jim Messmer (Christy), Brinnon, Washington, John Messmer, Ketchikan, Alaska, Maryann Messmer Welch (Jim), North River, Washington, Bob Messmer, Auburn, Washington, Karen Messmer (Jim Lazar), Olympia, Washington. Six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. In addition exchange daughter Kate (Gie) Wilson and David Wilson, Sydney, Australia and Lynne and Vern Dearing, Olympia, Washington are considered part of the family.

The family hopes to plan a celebration of his life at a later time. In the meantime, those who knew Lou are welcome to share memories at the following website: www.mykeeper.com/profile/LouMessmer/

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the staff at Channel Point and Pacific Care for caring for Lou.

The family suggests memorial donations in Lou’s name be made to the Grays Harbor Community Clothing Bank (PO Box 1895 Aberdeen, WA 98520) or the Lou Messmer Scholarship Fund at the Grays Harbor Community Foundation (PO Box 615 Hoquiam, WA 98550)