Monty Leon Montgomery

Published 4:28 pm Monday, November 14, 2016

May 3, 1927 – November 3, 2016

Monty, 89, a long time resident of Portland, OR, passed away on Nov. 3, 2016 peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. Monty was born in Talent, OR, on May 3, 1927, to Donnie Allen and Vera Mae Withrow Montgomery (later Newland).

As part of the “Greatest Generation,” Monty graduated early from Talent High School and with his parent’s permission, joined the Naval Service at 17 years of age, sailing on the USS Gurke (DD 783) into Tokyo Bay in August of 1945. After being discharged, he attended Oregon State University and graduated with a degree in aquatic biology and fishery management.

Monty met Sally Marie Knight in Medford, OR, and they were married there on Sept. 16, 1949. They made Medford, Bend, Corvallis, and Portland, Oregon, their home over their 60 years of marriage. Our favorite family memory is our yearly camping trip at “Cow Camp” outside of Bend, OR.

Monty began working for the Oregon State Game Commission (now Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife) in 1950 as a biologist. As manager at Fall River Hatchery, in his first position with the Commission, Monty’s first success in conservation was to convince the US Army Corps of Engineers not to put the Upper Deschutes into a culvert above Deschutes Bridge during construction of the Cascade Lakes Highway, as was being mandated by the regulations created by the Tennessee Valley Authority construction projects of the 1930s. He continued his working career with the ODFW until he retired as the (Acting) Director in 1987.

During his career and long after into retirement, Monty continued to do what he loved, volunteering for conservation projects. He received the highest award of the Izaak Walton League of America. “Monty dedicated a lifetime to conservation and protecting Oregon’s natural resources,” said Chuck Clayton, the League’s national president. “His work to benefit conservation as a local, state, and national leader in the Izaak Walton League represents a spirit of volunteerism many Americans cherish.”

Sally preceded him in death in 2010. They are survived by their six children, Teresa Franzke of Bend, OR; Kimberly Waddle of Walla Walla, WA; Molly Montgomery of Happy Valley, OR; Lisa Joyce of Newberg, OR; Heidi Elliott of Vancouver, WA; and Jeff Montgomery of Aloha, OR. They had 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Monty will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A celebration of Monty and Sally’s lives will take place at the family home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in honor of Monty to a project that he and his best friend, Corky Corthell, were instrumental in initiating:

The Coos County STEP Commission, Educational Account, PO Box 1611, North Bend, OR 97459. (visit it on line at www.MorganCreekFishHatchery.org)