Mrs. Eleanor Louise Messerly Harner, of Frederick, MD, passed into God's loving arms on Sunday, August 31, 2014 at the age of 90. Born December 21, 1923 in Lock Haven, PA, she was the daughter of the late Clyde Jay and Eleanor Pearl Dickey Messerly. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Hood College in 1944 and returned to Hood as a grandmother to receive her Master of Arts Degree in the presence of her proud children and grandchildren in 1978. She continued her education with post graduate studies at Towson and the University of Maryland. Eleanor was involved in education for 20 years in both Pennsylvania and Frederick County. She taught kindergarten at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, special education at Walkersville Elementary School, and was a Loubach tutor for the Literacy Council following her retirement. She was a charter member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and an active member of Evangelical Lutheran Church. She served as an officer and director of the Frederick Community Concert Association for over 40 years, and was a member of the FMH auxiliary, Alpha Delta Kappa, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Eleanor loved the outdoors and taught both her children and grandchildren to appreciate all gifts of nature provided by God. Her most treasured moments were those shared with her family. Eleanor is survived by her children; Eleanor Monnett and husband, Robert, of Prince Frederick, MD, Suzanne Doxzen, of Frederick; and Chris Harner and wife, Susan, of Rescue, VA; grandchildren; Brian Monnett and wife, Iris; Natalie Doubleday; Karen Miller and husband, Bryan; Ron Heffner and wife, Cathy; Blaine Heffner; Christie Harner and husband, Chad; and Patrick Harner and wife, Chloe; great grandchildren Nikki and Cassie Miller, Chris Monnett and Natasha, Michael Monnett, and Alexis Doubleday; and three great-great grandchildren Alyssa Monnett, Brooke Monnett and Caiden Monnett; one sister, Anna Mary Sullivan; and one sister-in-law, Blanche Messerly. She is also survived by her loving nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by a brother, Clyde Dickey Messerly. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, September 4, 2014, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 31 East Church Street, Frederick, with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service. Dr. Michael O'Donnell, Pastoral Assistant, will officiate. Private interment will be held in the Highland Cemetery, Lock Haven, PA. Arrangements are with the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick, where online condolences may be shared at keeneybasford.com. The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Daybreak Adult Day Services, Inc., 7819 Rocky Springs Road, Frederick, MD 21702, who brought meaning to the recent years of her life with their quality care, compassion, dignity and love.
