Marilyn E. Messer

Marilyn Messer, 87, of Amarillo, TX, passed away on June 2, 2026, after an extended stay at The Ware at Park Central.

A service will be held at 2:00 PM on August 29, 2026, at the Chapel of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, with Pastor Robby Barrett officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Marilyn was born in Shamrock, Texas, on September 6, 1938, to Raymond and Hester Patterson. She and her family lived in McClean for several years where she pursued a love for art through drawing and painting lessons. As a teenager she spent many hours working in her family restaurant in a variety of positions. The family moved to Roswell in 1954 where she attended High School and met her future husband. She graduated from Roswell High School in 1956 and married Jay Messer, also of Roswell, on May 24, 1958.

Throughout her life, Marilyn worked in a variety of occupations, including banking, bookkeeping, and roles within the education system. Her most cherished and defining roles, however, was that of mother and homemaker—a calling in which she truly excelled. Marilyn and Jay began their family in Roswell in 1959, raising three boys there and later in Amarillo after moving in 1968.

As a mother, Marilyn was an unwavering advocate for her children. She was an exceptional cook, gifted at stretching food dollars to keep three growing boys and a hungry husband well fed. Her meals were simple, hearty, and delicious—fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and Sunday roast with all the trimmings were staples in the Messer home. Her desserts were equally memorable, including chocolate pie, apple cake, and an assortment of beloved cookies. Her Thanksgiving feasts were legendary, a tradition she maintained until she could no longer stand in the kitchen.

Marilyn was a devoted supporter of her boys in all their pursuits. She and Jay spent countless hours on the road attending sporting events, music performances, and other activities, always encouraging their sons in every endeavor.

She enjoyed a wide range of hobbies and creative interests. Marilyn had a lifelong passion for art, beginning in middle school, and she developed real skill in painting and sketching with oils, pastels, charcoal, and pencil. She also loved pottery, macramé, crochet, and embroidery. A voracious reader, she especially enjoyed Texas history, western lore, and romance novels.

Marilyn and Jay were “dog people” through and through, always sharing their home with beloved canine companions. Their final two dogs—Teddy Bear, a large Akita, and Charlie Brown, a Maltipoo—were particular favorites and brought Marilyn great joy until her move to The Ware.

A proud Texan, Marilyn, supported all things Texas with enthusiasm. She loved to travel and enjoyed many places across the United States, including Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, North Carolina, and California. She also treasured two special overseas trips to Spain and Ireland. Her Irish ancestry fascinated her, and she spent many hours researching her extended family tree—it mattered deeply to her to understand where she came from.

Marilyn was a committed Christian, having accepted Christ at age 13. She was a faithful churchgoer who loved her Sunday School classes, cherished the music, and spent much time in the Word. She instilled that same faith in her boys, believing it to be the foundation of a successful and God pleasing life. Marilyn spoke of her faith up to her passing and never doubted that she was going to be with the Father. She served for many years in the First Baptist flower ministry, blessing countless people through her work, and she supported women’s ministries and Amarillo shelters through both service and regular donations.

Marilyn taught her family what a good mother should be. She loved her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and great grandchildren deeply. She modeled a strong work ethic both inside and outside the home and was a loyal friend to those in her circle. A patriot, she instilled a strong love of country in her family. She was quick to laugh and loved playing cards and dominoes. She will be missed by all who knew her, and her family and friends look forward to seeing her again.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Jay; her parents, Raymond and Hester Patterson; her brother, Don; and her sister, Carolyn.

She is survived by her sons Rick (Parkville, MO), Steven (Flower Mound, TX), and Randy (Norman, OK); 11 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.