Name: Service for Jean Messelt
Start: 2025-09-13T15:00:00.000Z
Location: Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home & Hillcrest Mausoleum & Memorial Park

Jean Elizabeth Rodgers Breese Messelt of Green Valley, Arizona, and formerly of Dallas, Texas, passed away August 30, 2025. She was always first and foremost, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and friend who will be deeply missed by all of us.
Jean was born August 29, 1928, in Philadelphia, PA, although her family roots grew in Minnesota and Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents Fritz and Viola Rodgers, brother Warren Rodgers, husband Bob Breese, nephew Chuck Bryant, Annie Messelt and sister Patricia Rodgers Bryant.
Jean graduated from SMU where she met her husband, Bob Breese. She raised three children, Fred, Sally and Kathy, while also running swim programs, working in the schools, volunteering at Scottish Rite hospital and Northwest Bible Church, leading Girl Scout troop 1022 and mentoring dear friends along the way.
She loved sailing and water skied until age 75! Lake Texoma was her home away from home which she shared with everyone. Jean had a heart for serving others.
After the death of her husband, Bob, Jean found love again with Clayton Messelt and moved to Green Valley, Arizona. They shared a wonderful life full of adventures traveling the world, RVing, birding, volunteering at the White Elephant and spending time in Show Low. Jean made lifelong friends everywhere along the way.
Jean's greatest love was spending time with family and friends. Connecting with others was her essence. She had a very kind and loving heart.
She is survived by her husband, Clayton Messelt, children Fred and Beckie, Sally and Eric, Kathy and Don; Bruce and Terri, LeAnn and Kent, grandkids Tracy and Stefan, Cindy and Rory, Andy; Robert and Corrie, Elizabeth and Dino, Katherine and Wendell; Daniel and Julie, Warren, Travis and Stephanie; Ben; Nick and Brooke; Katie, Ellie; 19 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren; dear brother in law Richard Bryant and his children Doug, James and Barbara.
Services will be at 2:00 p.m., September 8th at Valley Presbyterian Church in Green Valley. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Voice of Hope Ministries at PO Box 224845, Dallas, TX 75222-4845 or online at https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/donate/voice-of-hope-ministries-1.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Green Valley News & Sun from Sep. 5 to Sep. 7, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Jean Messelt

Sponsored by Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home & Hillcrest Mausoleum & Memorial Park.

6 Entries

Kikic Family

Sent Sympathy Gifts including Trees

Selma Kikic

September 11, 2025

When my family arrived in Dallas as refugees from war torn Bosnia, Jean and her family, though complete strangers to us, welcomed us as their own. We spent our first Thanksgiving and Christmas with them and a summer at a Texas lakehouse. Though the details blur, Jean´s generosity, kindness, and unforgettable smile remain crystal clear.

Jean cheered for my sister and me when we were accepted to an elite all-girls school in Texas and later celebrated our graduations, even hosting a gathering in her home for my high school graduation. To me, she became the grandmother I had lost in the war, radiating the same warmth and joy my own grandparents would have shared.

Jean´s smile and loving nature dissolved every language and cultural barrier. With her, and with Fred, Sally, and Kathy who reinforced her openhearted welcome, we always felt like family. She embodied the very best of American generosity and goodness: an example of compassion and inclusion that will continue to inspire me.

I will always cherish Jean as our "fairy grandmother," whose love helped us feel at home in a new country. Her legacy of kindness reaches far beyond her own family and will continue to inspire all who were fortunate to know her.

With deepest sympathy and gratitude,
Selma Kikic

Beth Lutz Knight

September 8, 2025

As a young teenager I didn't know that one of my mom's friends would become the woman who kept tabs on me as I grew up, left Dallas/Texas, became a mom, and then a grandmother. Jean remembered everything and cared my updates, and she made me feel connected to my past. On the flip side, I remain in awe of the woman, wife, mother, grandmother, great gmom ,and great great gmom she was. She is a legacy to all with whom she came in touch. Her presence will be deeply missed, but I am grateful in knowing she is home with her Father in Heaven. Much love, Beth

Debbie OConnell

September 8, 2025

This beautiful kind loving woman will be much missed by her loving family and friends. It was pleasure knowing her. Love Wim and Debbie

Sally Breese Roehm

September 7, 2025

The date is wrong. The service in Dallas is September 13, 10: a.m. at Sparkman Hillcrest Chapel, burial to follow.

Skip Francisco

September 6, 2025

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. Clayton, Deb and I remember how welcoming you were when we moved into the neighborhood. Attending the HOA meetings and how you two were involved. Years certainly have passed quickly. Take care.

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