James "Jim" D. Messersmith, a native of Painsville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully at home after several months of battling liver cancer. He was a 1949 graduate of Stephen W. Kearny Junior-Senior High School in San Diego and received both his Bachelor's (1953) and Master's Degree (1955) in Fisheries from Oregon State University.

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While in college, Jim joined ROTC receiving his commission in 1953. He served in the Air Force in Germany with the 601st AC&W Squadron. He then began a thirty-six year career as a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game.

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Jim was an advocate for the outdoors and wildlife preservation as well as conservation education serving as a twenty-year volunteer for the Tuna Research Conservation Center of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and as a member of the board of directors for the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. He also volunteered for I-HELP and St. Philip's Food Bank, loved gardening and reading, and was an avid fan of the Oregon State University Beavers. Jim was a well-known for his cultivation of his berry patched for the coveted "Opa Jam",

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Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years. Elviera Messersmith; his children: Eric Messersmith of Depoe Bay, OR, Kristina Messersmith of Gold River, CA, Martin (Karen) Messersmith of Stockton, CA and Charles (Susan) Messersmith of Charleston, SC; his grandchildren; Ryan and Katelyn (Marin), Cassandra and Annika (Kristina), Andre (Charles); his brother, Frank Messersmith of Cupertino, CA and many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Lewis and Agnes Messersmith and sisters, Phyllis Bryan and Margaret Elliot.