Vanessia G. Messer Bland

Vanessia G. Messer Bland, 29, of Owensboro passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, August 27, 2010. Born in Nuremberg, Germany on November 27, 1980, she is the daughter of Ken and Lorrie McDonald Messer of Owensboro; worked as a caregiver for Comfort Keepers; was a student at Daymar College; was a member of Walnut Memorial Baptist Church. A devoted mother of two, Vanessia was a loving, full of life person who never met a stranger. She loved all of God's creatures, especially butterflies and horses. She volunteered with Dream Riders of Kentucky. A 1999 graduate of Apollo High School, her goal was to work in Law Enforcement. She was preceded in death by grandparents, Kenneth E. Messer, Roy and Nell McDonald, and an aunt, Linda Foster.

Surviving are her husband of 9 years, Brandon Bland; her children, Morgan Bland (Burns Elementary) and Aaron Bland (Buena Vista Christian Learning Center); her parents, Ken and Lorrie Messer of Owensboro; grandparents, Marvin and Barbara Garrett of Murphy, NC; her father and mother-in-law, Mike and Judy Bland of Owensboro; aunts and uncles, Larry and Sandra Helton, Julie Mathis of Murphy, NC, Johnny and Geneva Foster of Hayesville, NC, Ronnie and Shirley McDonald of Blairsville, GA, Rick and Terry McDonald of Andrews, NC, Allen and Debbie Chambers of Murphy, NC, Jimmy and Melanie Messer of Hiawassee, GA, Mark and Ancy Garrett of Blairsville, GA; brothers-and sister-in-law, Damian Bland and Garrett and Stacy Carter of Owensboro; nieces, Megan and Allison Carter; and a host of cousins.

Services are 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at Walnut Memorial Baptist Church with burial following in Owensboro Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Monday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory and after 12 noon Tuesday at Walnut Memorial Baptist Church.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Owensboro Police Department, Canine Unit or Dream Riders of Kentucky.

Online condolences may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com.