Carl Eugene Montgomery, Obituary

OBITUARIES

Gene was born on November 17, 1939 in Semora, NC to Norman and Elizabeth Wilkins Montgomery.  He joined the church triumphant from Duke Hospital on June 25 with his beloved Anne and other family by his side.          

Gene graduated from NC State University with a degree in agricultural technology.  He married Anne Jones on April 16, 1960 in Roxboro.  The Montgomerys bought a farm in Orange County and made their home on the land they loved.  Gene worked as manager of a truck sales firm and with several ventures of his own.  Farming was always his first love and his time spent on a tractor planting and harvesting hay saw him in his happy place.

His many skills were used to renovate an 1879 farm house and it became a welcoming place where he and Anne frequently enjoyed hosting their families and friends.  Gene was known for his quiet way of loving the humans and animals around him.  Of all the good things that have been said of him, the most common is “He was truly a good man.”

He was known for his kindness, generosity, the moral values by which he lived, and warm and loving hugs.  One friend said,  “There is no need to ever steal anything here, just ask Gene and he will give it to you.”

Mr. Montgomery was a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and chair of the property and building committees for many years.  He was an inaugural member of the New Hope Camp and Conference Center board.  Both organizations were beneficiaries of his knowledge, skills and work with his equipment as he personally performed many valuable services.  He served on the Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship Selection Committee at his beloved NC State University.  He greatly enjoyed serving on committees and working for community betterment at the Schley Grange.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Malcolm (Minnie Ella) and Linwood.  He is survived by his wife Anne Jones Montgomery, brother Grayson (Sandy) of Jacksonville, Florida; sister Joy of Roxboro, sister-in-law Sara Maxwell (Sonny) of Jacksonville, Florida and eleven nieces and nephews.  Gene and Anne “adopted” Paul Hill, Stephan Hooker, Randy Plante, Lisa Premock and Jacky Rosati Rowe, along with their children, all of whom addressed them as Papa Gene and Gran Anne.  Gene was a special favorite among the youth and children to whom he related with affection and warmth.

A service of witness to the resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 23 at New Hope Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill.  Memorial contributions may be made to:  NC Agricultural Foundation at NC State University. Please write a note, “Anne and Gene Montgomery Scholarship Fund” and mail to Campus Box 7645, Raleigh NC 27695 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

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