Obituary of Lanita Jane "Nicki" Messenger

Lanita Jane “Nicki” Messenger of Morgantown and recently of The Suites at Heritage Point in Morgantown, passed away on Friday, October 23, after a short battle with Cancer. Nicki was born on October 19th, 1937 in Newton, WV, the daughter of the late Clay Smith Wright and Edith Nell White. A long time resident of the Morgantown area, Nicki was an avid golfer and was a member of Lakeview Country Club where she was a Club Champion. She participated and promoted many women’s golf activities in WV and the surrounding area. Nicki was also a dedicated bridge player in which she played in multiple bridge clubs each week in the Morgantown area with many of her close friends. She was also a long time member of The First Baptist Church of Morgantown. She was a 1991 graduate of West Virginia University School of Social Work and obtained her Masters of Social Work from WVU in 1993. She worked for over a decade as a Clinical Social Worker at the William R. Sharpe, jr., Hospital in Weston, WV, formally known as the Weston State Hospital. Nicki is survived by her daughter; Terry Messenger of Morgantown, and a son and daughter in law, Jay Messenger and Carla Rees Messenger of McLean, VA. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Carl “Max” Messenger from Kingwood, WV, and a brother Joe Wright of Medinia, OH. The family wishes to send a special thank you all the people that provide care and service to Nicki during the past few months, to the entire staff of The Suites at Heritage Point, Ruby Memorial Hospital, Reliable Healthcare Solutions and Morgantown Hospice. Family and friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown Saturday, Oct. 31st from 2-4 p.m. There will also be a reception honoring Nicki’s life following church services on Sunday November 1st at The First Baptist Church Downtown Morgantown, 432 High Street, from 1:00 to 2:00pm. A private burial will take place at Mt. Moriah Methodist Church in Valley Point, WV to rest beside her late husband Max. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Morgantown Hospice, 1063 Maple Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505 or The American Cancer Society.