John Edward Montgomery, 66, passed away while in hospice care at his home in Houston, Texas Wednesday, May 10, 2023, after a long battle with liver disease.
Those available to gather in love and remembrance may join the family at the Solon American Legion Saturday, Aug. 12, for a hosted celebration of life starting at 4 p.m.
Born in Iowa City Feb. 19, 1957, to James Patrick “Mike” and Dorothy “Dot” (Spivey) Montgomery. John had fond memories of growing up as part of a large family in Iowa City and Solon – including working at his family’s business, the Cabbage Patch. John was a 1975 graduate of Solon High School and attended and played football at William Penn University in Oskaloosa. He started his own family in Solon, where he was a member of the volunteer fire department and began working in the moving and logistics industry.
John worked his way up from loading trucks to management and sales at several companies during his career, which took him to Illinois, Missouri, Texas, North Carolina and ultimately back to Houston, Texas, where he resided from 2004 onward. Although he lived far away, John was a proud father and loved his daughters with all his heart. John was baptized as Baptist at the Metropolitan Baptist Church “The Met” in Houston in 2014. On June 22, 2019, he married Sharon McGee Montgomery, whom he met in Houston and courted for several years.
John had an outgoing personality and never met a stranger. He could talk business and politics with the best of them. His passion and talent for cooking and grilling always impressed – he could make a meal out of anything. John enjoyed volunteering at the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and participating on teams at the HLSR World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest for many years.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Mike “Buddah” Montgomery and Dan “Danny” Montgomery; and sister, Kathryn “Kate” Neuzil.
John is survived by his loving wife, Sharon; daughters, Jennifer “Jenny” Montgomery of San Diego, Calif. and Melanie “Odie” Montgomery of Solon; bonus sons, Jaren Farrar and Colton Farrar (sons of Sharon); sisters, Peggy Montgomery-Macal of Cedar Rapids, Patti Mullnix of Solon, Mary Young (Mike) of Iowa City, Stacy Scesney (Bill) of Fishkill, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Beth Montgomery (Buddah) of Iowa City; brother-in-law, Marvin Neuzil (Kate) of Iowa City; Marlene (See) Mertens (Ed) of Ely, (former spouse and mother of Jennifer and Melanie); and many nieces, nephews and cousins.