Memorial services for Doris Ruth Ledford Messenger were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, from the chapel of Oak Lawn Funeral Home-Cremation Center in Sparta, Tenn.

Mrs. Messenger passed away Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at Memorial Hospital in Hixson. Her beloved siblings were with her, as were other family members.

She was born July 18, 1941, in Chattanooga to Lawrence and Ruth Reno Ledford.

Mrs. Messenger was employed for many years at the accounting office of James Hawkins in Cookeville. She was an accomplished rider of Tennessee Walking horses, having won many awards throughout the states of Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky Georgia and Alabama. She and her husband attended the Walking Horse Celebration for more than 50 years.

Her family includes her husband of 44 years, Jim Messenger; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Katherine Roark of Chattanooga and Mary and Ed Duppenthaler of Florida; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Alton and Elouise Ledford of Chattanooga and James and Shelby Ledford of Chapel Hill; four step-children and their spouses, Bruce Messenger of Sparta, Suzanne and Bill Worrell of Cookeville, Deborah Messenger of Doyle and Sandra and Joe Kipp of Michigan; a daughter-in-law, Connie Messenger of Sparta; nine granchildren; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her step-son, Terry Messenger, who was of Sparta, Tenn.