The late Eddy Lee Messick, a native of Bell Buckle and resident of Madison, N.C., was known to many as a true cowboy.  

His brother, James, who still lives in Bell Buckle, recently shared some fond memories about his younger brother. He worked in the aircraft industry for 40 years.  

Newspaper articles written about his work at TIMCO/ HAECO call him a pioneer in his field and the professor of structures, his brother said.  

“He was a professional and received countless awards and accolades for his work. He loved to box, drive fast cars, and watch the Braves play baseball, but his real passion was animals. He knew everything there was to know about a horse, cow, chicken, and dog. He loved to ride and train horses, and was a true cowboy.”  

Eddy Lee Messick, died at age 73 on June 8, 2019. His brother misses him.  

A native of Bell Buckle, Eddy was the husband of Kathleen Diane Messick and the son of the late Clarence Wesley Messick and Beulah Elizabeth Pearson Messick.  

He grew up on his family’s dairy farm; he went on to run his own dairy and served in the Army National Guard. Eddy had many accomplishments as an alderman for the town of Bell Buckle, and felt that his work there helped the town thrive the way it does today, family stated.  

He was a member of the North Carolina Angus Association and family said “the proud owner” of a herd of registered Black Angus cattle. He “fooled with” chickens his whole life and really enjoyed them, said brother James.  

James remembers Eddy’s favorite topic and hobby was “coon hunting,” and how he traveled to all the major hunts. He loved his hounds, kept a kennel full, and was known all over the country for them. Eddy had two “once-in-a-lifetime” dogs: a border collie with a “college education,” and “JT,” which he said often was a coonhound “smarter than most people.  

The dogs were so endearing to him, they included his beloved black and tan hound, Luke, as a survivor in his obit. 

Family said Eddy was a friend to many over the years. There’s one other thing his brother fondly remembers about him, “He was a master storyteller, keeping those around him in constant laughter with his unique southern wit and grit. He was a strong and compassionate man who was always giving and helping others.”  

Local services were held for Eddy. He was buried in his beloved Bell Buckle at Hazel Cemetery.