Alan Lee Messmore of Brooker, Florida, passed away on July 14 at the age of 91.

Alan was born on March 30, 1935, in Toledo, Ohio, to Chester Lee Messmore and Florence Cripe Messmore. Growing up, Alan was very athletic and always active. He played basketball for the Miami Edison High School junior varsity and varsity teams.

Alan earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida in 1958. After graduation, he served two years in the Army at Fort Belvoir. He later worked as a civil engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Savannah, Georgia, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C.

Alan married Leslie Annette Green in 1961, and together they raised three children: Anna, Lee, and Laura Lynn. Alan and Annette loved square dancing with their friends on weekends. Alan also enjoyed listening to classical music. Although he never took music lessons, he had an ear for playing the songs he liked on the piano. His favorite song was “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Alan continued to foster his love of sports by teaching his children how to play softball and basketball. He coached Lee’s and Laura Lynn’s basketball teams at the Temple Hills Basketball Recreational League in Maryland and also served as a referee for the league. Lee fondly remembers that his dad always gave every team member equal playing time, even those who were not the strongest players. Alan was also a pitcher for Our Savior Lutheran Church’s softball team in Temple Hills for one year. As a left-handed pitcher, he had an advantage over right-handed batters, and he also played first base. His team went on to win the championship that year.

In addition to sports, Alan enjoyed traveling with his family, especially camping in their pop-up tent camper. Each summer, they visited a different part of the United States, exploring many major national and state parks and traveling from California to New York. Alan was an excellent swimmer and fisherman and shared those skills with his children.

After retiring in July 1988, Alan and Annette moved to Brooker, Florida, and became members of Brooker Baptist Church. An avid card player, Alan played bridge, hearts, and pinochle at a senior citizens’ retirement center in Gainesville, Florida. He also became interested in the stock market and regularly read Barron’s and The Wall Street Journal for investment tips. He loved talking about the stock market with anyone who was interested and offering suggestions about good stocks to buy.

Alan is survived by his wife of 64 years, Annette; his children, Anna Marie Deighton (Jim) and Leslie Lee Messmore (Isabel); and his grandchildren, Rose Deighton, Katherine Deighton, and Lucas Messmore. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Lynn, and his parents, Chester and Florence. A memorial service will be held at a later date.