Ashley Messmann .
As most of you know now the massive and fatal accident on US 24 due to the extreme fog took the life of our dear friend and co-worker at the West Bend News. View the obituary here
Ashley Messmann from Paulding was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. She was a great friend and she blessed the area in so many ways that most people didn’t know.
Ashley was a beautiful young woman in heart and soul and she loved her family. She talked about her husband, Harry, often (not always good… 🙂 but who doesn’t have issues at times) She loved him very much and told us that. Her life was their son Asher who just turned two. She didn’t go anywhere without pictures of him. Ashley would tell me what happened the night before and how he would make the cats and dogs upset and then go love them. She and her sister Sara grew close over the last few weeks and I am so glad for them. Her brother was getting ready for track to start and Ashley couldn’t wait to go and take pictures of him and little Asher. She started attending church with her grandparents and told us how much she wanted to follow Jesus and wanted to know more. She loved her parents and in-laws and she was not afraid to share, because she cared. And don’t get me started on how much she loved her dogs.
Ashley started working at the West Bend News in August of 2012. She worked hard and had increased the value of the newspaper with her behind the scenes work. If you had called or even looked at the West Bend News in the last six months more than likely you spoke with her or viewed her work. This week’s newspaper, look and you will see the work she performed, yet she didn’t get to see it in print.
I think she even liked work. She would say it was her dream job (not sure why…) She was worth much more than I could pay, but she was faithful and made it a joy here for Angel, Laura, Stan and I to work with.
At times she was a firecracker and let me know her opinion and I valued it highly, not always agreeing, but it made things work. She grew in spirit and knowledge so much in the short time she was at the West Bend News, and so did I. She learned and took on much of the responsibilities.
The office is a little too quiet now. There is no country music play from Ashley’s desk, or her telling me how excited she is to go and meet country music star Luke Bryan at Coliseum next week with her media pass.
It’s hard right now. It’s very hard on her family too. Please pray for them as they learn to cope. Do more than pray, help them out. We don’t always understand, but good times are just around the corner. The wounds will heal, but the scars will remain keeping her in our memory forever.
I could go on and on about Ashley, I won’t because you get the picture.
I suppose I just miss my friend.
–Bryce
