Evelyn (Heft) Messier, 87, of Killingworth, died Nov. 26 at the Aaron Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chester after complications from post polio syndrome. She was the wife of the late Nelson Messier, with whom she raised a family on land from her parents. Evelyn was born in Middletown on Aug. 22, 1925, daughter of the late John and Edith (Sypher) Heft of Killingworth. Evelyn contracted polio at the age of six and spent most of the next 10 years of her life at the Newington Children’s Hospital. She graduated from Hand High School in Madison in 1944.

After two years of training at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, she worked at Yale Labs as a lab technician in hematology. While living in New Haven, Evelyn enjoyed attending classical concerts, which nurtured a life-long love of opera.

A loving mother and proud homemaker, Evelyn could always be counted on to share her knowledge of medicine and nature. She enjoyed tending her flower gardens and was an avid bird watcher. She acquired a large natural history library and enjoyed talking with friends and family about wildlife and gardening.

She is survived by two children, son Steven Messier and his wife Mary of Unionville, and daughter Michelle and her husband Dan Labriolla of Old Lyme; two grandchildren, Miles Messier and Alyssa Harrington; her sister Doris Kurze of Deep River; and her brother Louis Heft of Chester. She was predeceased by two brothers, John and George, and a sister, Helen Wettish.

Visitation will be held at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St., Centerbrook, on Friday, Nov. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m.  Private burial will take place in Fountain Hill Cemetery, Deep River. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Killingworth Library Association, Inc., P.O. Box 725, Killingworth, CT 06419. To share a memory of Evelyn or send a condolence to her family please visit www.rwwfh.com.