Marguerite Fay Messersmith of Cambridge, aunt of Jeweldine Gaibler and Evelyn Davis, both of Farnam and Charlot Williams of Eustis, died Feb. 4, 2000, at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She was 96.

She was born Dec. 4, 1903, in Otoe County near Unadilla to Carson and Ora Shull Davis. In 1918, the family moved to Farnam, where she graduated in 1922.

On June 17, 1928, she married Lauren Messersmith at the Congregational Church in Stockville. They moved to Lake Villa, Ill., in October 1942, so her husband could attend the Chicago Theology Seminary. Her husband was pastor of the Midburn, Ill., Congregational Church for 31 years. She taught the high school class for many years and helped with Bible School and camping activities. She was active in several organizations in Illinois and Nebraska. She taught school for 11 years in Nebraska and was a first grade teacher for 31 years in Illinois. They retired to Fox Lake, Ill., in 1973, and she moved to the Heritage Plaza in Cambridge in 1995. She was a member of the Cambridge Congregational Church.

Mrs. Messersmith is survived by three nieces, Jeweldine (Orville) Gaibler and Evelyn Davis, both of Farnam and Charlot (Russell) Williams of Eustis; a nephew, Glen (Betty) Davis of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and their families.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985; her parents; two brothers, Harland and Charley Davis; and a nephew, Kent Davis.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at United Congregational Church in Cambridge with Pastor Larry Booth officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in the Farnam Cemetery.

The North Platte Telegraph, February 6, 2000.