John W. Montgomery

On Sunday, September 23, 2012, John W. Montgomery of Pensacola went home to be with the Lord after an extended illness. John W. Montgomery was born on October 5, 1927, in Nauvoo, Alabama, to the late William Edward Montgomery and Dora Clee McGough Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery is also preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Carolyn Betty Wilson Montgomery. John and Betty Montgomery had three children, Charles Clayton Montgomery of Milton, Barry Neal Montgomery and Marsha Wilson Montgomery, both of Pensacola. They are also survived by four grandchildren, Angela Renee Montgomery (George) Clark of Mobile, Christopher Clayton (Lisa Quina) Montgomery of Pensacola, John Wesley Montgomery of Milton, and Ian Scott Montgomery of Pensacola, and by three great-grandchildren, Tristan Alexander Clark and Rebecca Christine Clark of Mobile, and Alexander Christian Montgomery of Pensacola. He is also survived by a brother and sister, Donald E. (Guilea) Montgomery of Hattiesburg, MS, and Faye Montgomery Morris, formerly of Witchata Falls and Burleson, Texas. He was predeceased by a brother and sister, Neal Montgomery of Nauvoo and Effie May Montgomery Kimbrell of Covington, Georgia. He is survived by scores of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, who were all very special to him. John W. Montgomery graduated from Carbonhill High School in 1946 and subsequently joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Japan during the American occupation where he was injured and subsequently honorably discharged. In 1948, Mr. Montgomery was employed by Frisco Railroad in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1949, he was transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, where he met his wife, Carolyn Betty Wilson. In 1951, they were transferred to Pensacola where they remained. Mr. Montgomery retired from the then Burlington Northern Railroad in 1992, after 44 years of service. Mr. Montgomery was involved in both charitable and Masonic activities in Pensacola. He was a long time member of West Pensacola Lodge 296 of the Free and Accepted Masons where he served a Worshipful Master in 1971 and remained as Secretary to the Lodge for nearly 20 years. Mr. Montgomery also belonged to the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and Hadji Shrine. He was a current member and Past Monarch of the Zelica Grotto, where he served as Secretary for many years and Food Service Director until his recent illness. He was also a current member of Escambia Lodge 15 of the F & AM. Mr. Montgomery enjoyed his work with both United Cerebral Palsy and the Pensacola ARC, where he cooked many, many barbeques for the members, their families and their support personnel. John Montgomery was a jovial and caring person and rarely met a stranger. Mr. Montgomery had been a long time member of Myrtle Grove Baptist Church where he was an active member of the Baptist Brotherhood. He was a current member of First Baptist Church of Pensacola and active member of the Friendship Sunday School Class. A viewing will be at Faith Chapel on Beverly Parkway Wednesday, September 26, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Services for Mr. Montgomery will be held at the First Baptist Church Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Covenant Hospice. A special thanks to Covenant Hospice for all the kind acts they offered to the family during Mr. Montgomery’s extended illness. Service: Services will be at First Baptist Church downtown.

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John W. Montgomery

October 5, 1927 - September 23, 2012