Lowell D. Messley

8/9/1933 — 5/4/2026

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Lowell Dean Messley, of Genesee, passed away Monday, May 4, 2026. He was 92 years old.

Lowell was born Aug. 9, 1933, to Walter and Gladys Messley. The cost of his birth was two heifer calves. At birth, a shoulder was dislocated and baby Lowell cried a lot. Walter may have wished he had the calves back. He was the youngest of six children. All of his early life was spent in Buhl, Idaho. He graduated from Buhl High School in 1951. He off and on was the president of his class and was elected student body president.

Lowell attended Northwest Christian College and the University of Oregon. He graduated with a Bachelor of Theology. He was a clergyman for 12 years in Wenatchee, Wash., Winston, Ore., Quincy, Wash., Ephrata, Wash. and Genesee, Idaho. After much study and life observation, Lowell left the clergy and pursued a career in psychology. He obtained a master’s degree from Whitworth College in Spokane and did post graduate work at the University of Idaho and Washington State University. Thereafter he became Deputy Director of the Community Action Agency and Family Services Director in Lewiston. He was then employed by the State of Idaho as a psychologist. He worked in Child Development, Mental Health, and was director of the Asotin/Garfield Mental Health Center, the Idaho State School and Hospital and the Department of Corrections. At the Department of Corrections, Lowell was a psychologist, program director and deputy warden. He ended his career as the program director for the Serious and Dangerously Mentally Ill for the Department of Corrections. He received many commendations for the quality of his work.

Post working career, Lowell became an accomplished amateur astronomer which further profoundly shaped his view of life and man’s place in the universe. A major delight was showing people what some of the rest of the universe looked like and was about. Other pursuits were golfing, fishing, turkey hunting and being a snowbird to the dark skies in Arizona which were perfect for looking through his giant telescope.

He was married twice. For 21 years, Lowell was married to Nancy Kovar (now Lightfield), of Wenatchee. Three children were born to this union. Lowell was married to Carol Swan/Larsen/Messley for 28 years. Carol passed away in 2005. Lowell really never got over Carol’s passing. Carol had two children and Lowell became a stepfather at marriage. Lowell was always pleased with the life successes of all five children and grieved their losses and disappointments.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Walter and Gladys Messley, two brothers, Linton and Leman Messley, three sisters, Lorna Strolberg, Nadine Woodruff and Melva Johnson, a daughter, Melissa Pierce and a grandson, Alex Aherin, son of Michelle and Darrel Aherin, as well as his beloved wife Carol.

Surviving Lowell are his oldest daughter Michelle Aherin (Darrel), of Genesee, and two sons by marriage, Dan Aherin (Stephanie), of Lewiston, and his two sons Cullen and Max, as well as Max’ daughter Ember and Dustin Aherin (Kate), of Salmon Idaho, a son, Erik Messley, of Huntington Beach, Calif., and a granddaughter, Tia Norland (Russell), of Orofino, and her two children, Annabelle and Isabelle. Lowell also has a stepdaughter Barbara Larsen Reinstra (John), of Star, Idaho, and their three children Jordan Burke (Chris), of Meridian, Idaho, and their daughter Olivia, Ryan Reinstra (Katie), of Emmett, Idaho, and their two sons Jameson and Weston, and Matthew Reinstra (Torri), of Caldwell, and their daughter Palmer and a stepson, Jim Larsen (Tracy), of Grand Junction, Colo.

Lowell was a familiar sight in the Rockbridge Subdivision in Star, for several years walking his loved little Schnauzer, Karl. Many knew Karl and had no idea who Lowell was. A fitting end to his story.

A favorite saying of Lowell’s was “Man is just a blink in time. Enjoy your blinkin time.”

Note: The above was written by Lowell Messley.

Lowell and Carol met and were married in Lewiston. From there, they became semi-nomadic, living in Astoria, Ore., Clarkston, and Twin Falls, Meridian, Nampa and Star. In 2022, Lowell moved to Genesee, to be close to his daughter Michelle.

At Lowell’s request, no formal funeral service will be held. A family memorial gathering will be held at a future date in Buhl.

Memorial donations may be made to the Genesee Ambulance Department in Genesee, your local Humane Society or to the charity of your choice.

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