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Shirley Montgomery
SHIRLEY MARTIN MONTGOMERY
Iowa City
Shirley Martin Montgomery, 87, loving wife of John, and mother of John Jr. and Robert, passed peacefully at home Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, with her sons by her side.
She was born June 10, 1930, in Joplin, Mo., and was the daughter of Howard and Halce Martin. She graduated from Joplin High School and was a cadet colonel in ROTC and played flute in the band. While attending the University of Missouri, she also was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
After graduating from the University of Missouri, Shirley taught in elementary school and often spoke of the year she had 57 first-graders.
In her last weeks, she asked if she must list the many things she had done in her life or if it could just be stated that she loved her family and had wonderful friends.
For over four decades, Shirley hosted hundreds of functions for the Department of Oral Surgery and the University of Iowa Dental School. She was active with PEO and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni and was a PTA president. Her passions were her family and friends in which she took special pride in entertaining. Shirley had the gift of making others feel welcome and comfortable. She also found time to express her artistic side by making handmade Christmas cards for 64 years. Shirley relaxed by reading, planting flowers in her patio and working on her many craft projects. She enjoyed vacationing with family and going on the annual fishing trips.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband and high school sweetheart of 62 years, Dr. John C. Montgomery.
She is survived by her son, John (Tammy); her son, Robert (grandson, Justin); sister-in-law, Mary Lou Blair; and nephew, Dr. Brook Blair (Helen, and grandniece, Nora Lou).
Visitation will be held at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City on Tuesday, Dec. 19, between 4 and 7 p.m. A private burial will be held in Joplin, Mo., on Jan. 5, 2018.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the University of Iowa Foundation, College of Dentistry Achievement Fund, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244-4550 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929.
www.lensingfuneral.com
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