Lois Rankin Messé, 98, of Marcellus, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2022, in the comfort of her home.
Born in Canada, her parents moved to Syracuse when she was a child. She graduated from Most Holy Rosary High School in 1943 and Syracuse University in 1947. Lois married Thomas Messé after he returned from military service in Europe in World War II. She taught physical education at East Syracuse Minoa while Tom finished college and continued as a substitute teacher while raising three children in Marcellus.
Lois and Tom moved to Marcellus in 1951 and established Marcellus Motors on Main St. as the newest Ford dealership in NYS. They later owned and operated Onondaga Oil Company Inc. for several decades with divisions in Syracuse and Marcellus that distributed heating oil and petroleum products throughout several counties in Central NY.
Lois was a communicant and Eucharistic minister at St. Francis Xavier Church, Marcellus, and an avid golfer at Skaneateles Country Club.
Community service was an important part of Lois’ life. She volunteered her time and energy to many charities. In the 1960s she was the parent leader of the Brownies, Cadet Scouts and Cub Scouts troops. Lois enjoyed her service on the CNY Council of AFS, an international cultural exchange program. She and Tom hosted cultural exchange students in their home from Mexico and Trinidad/Tobago. They were leaders of community efforts to raise funds for a building on North Steet to facilitate religious release time education. She loved the outdoors and taught many children to swim as one of the creators of the Red Cross Learn to Swim program at Austin Park, Skaneateles.
Lois will be remembered as an avid Syracuse University football and basketball fan. She began attending games at the age of 5, in 1929, with her father at Archbald Stadium; and, was popular with the Dome’s hospitality staff as she consistently attended games in her wheelchair well into her 90s.
She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas, and her parents John and Kathleen Rankin. Surviving relatives are her son Jack (Ellen) of New Ipswich, NH; her daughter Barbara (Carlile) Bolton-Smith of Skaneatele; her son Bill (Susan) of Syracuse; grandchildren Rick (Stacey) of DeWitt; Brian of Syracuse; Graham of Red Lodge, MT; and Adrienne of Brattleboro, VT. Also, three great-grandchildren Brianna, Liam and Kate and many relatives in Nova Scotia.
Calling hours were from 4 to 6 pm on September 7 at Ryan Funeral Home, 44 E. Main Street, Marcellus. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated the next morning at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, West One Main Street, Marcellus. Rite of Committal and burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery, DeWitt.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Lois’ name may be made to the Marcellus Historical Society or St. Francis Xavier Church.
