WINTHROP – The Rev. Margaret Ann “Peg” Messer, 73, died at a Winthrop health care facility on Nov. 6, after a long illness.

She was born Aug. 10, 1932, in New Haven, Conn., the only child of Earl and Marion Messer. Peg was a graduate of James Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Conn., 1950; Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., B.A. in English literature, 1954; Columbia University in New York, N.Y., M.A. in English literature, 1955; and Bangor Theological Seminary, Bangor, M. Div., 1962. She also received a certificate in 1964 for completing a summer course in alcohol studies at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., and a diploma in 1974 for completing correspondence courses at the U.S.Air Force Air Command and Staff College.

She was ordained to the Christian ministry by the Waldo Association of the United Church of Christ (UCC) on June 24, 1962. Since 1971, she held ministerial standing in the Kennebec Valley Association of the UCC and was a member of Old South Congregational Church UCC in Hallowell. Peg was also a member of the American Association of University Professors.

She served as student pastor of the United Christian Church at Lincolnville and also at the United Methodist Church in North Penobscot. She served as pastor of the Sixth Street Congregational Church UCC in Auburn, as interim pastor at North Saco Christian Church UCC in Saco, as interim pastor of Moose River Congregational Church UCC in Jackman and as pastor of Riverside Congregational Church UCC in Vassalboro.

In other employment, she was a social worker in Brooklyn, N.Y., a high school English teacher in Hartford, Conn., an instructor in English at Mitchell College in New London, Conn., a National Teaching Fellow at Gorham State College in Gorham, an instructor in English at Unity College and a mental health worker at Augusta Mental Health Institute. She served as a part-time ambulance attendant for two years while working at AMHI.

Peg was a registered emergency medical technician, Red Cross advanced first aid and water safety instructor, Heart Association basic life support iInstructor, a registered Maine guide and a licensed private pilot. In June, she was taken up for a flight in a small plane from an Auburn airport and had the joy of flying a plane once again. This fulfilled a long-held desire during her later years.

Peg served on volunteer committees of the Maine Conference UCC and as a counselor at its summer camp, Pilgrim Lodge. She served in offices of the Cumberland and Kennebec Valley Associations of the UCC and in ecumenical organizations of women ministers. She was also active in the Civil Air Patrol, Maine Civil Defense, and the University of Maine at Augusta Community Chorus. Her hobbies were flying, fishing, mineral and stamp collecting, camping, bowling, reading and contract bridge.

Peg never married. She is survived by cousins, Ben F. Sherman Jr. of McLean, Va., and John Janes of Gardner, Mass. At her request, there will be no services. She instructed that her body be given to the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, where her cremated remains will be interred at a later date. Anyone who wishes to make a memorial gift to any of the churches Rev. Messer served, may send the same to the law offices of Peter T. Dawson, Esq., 74 Winthrop St., Augusta ME 04332-5036.

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