Obituary for Margaret Montgomery

Ponca City Now - August 27, 2018 4:10 pm

Margaret Ruth Montgomery

January 7, 1936 – August 25, 2018

Margaret Montgomery went to be with her Lord and Master Saturday, August 25, 2018 in Ponca City. She was born on January 7, 1936 in Midland, TX to Perry and Ruth (Hayes) Whitson. She grew up in Oklahoma City, graduating from Capitol Hill High School in 1954 and Oklahoma City University in 1958. At OCU, in 1954, she met Robert Blair Montgomery and they were married on November 20, 1956.

They were blessed with four children: Robert Blair, Jr. (1958), Bryan Michael (1959), Tams Harless (1961), and Karen Maile (1965). Following Robert’s graduation from Perkins School of Theology, SMU in 1961, they served as Methodist missionaries in Hawaii for nine years on the islands of Maui and Oahu. After five years in California they returned to Oklahoma where Margaret was employed, and volunteered, in a variety of children’s ministries in local churches and United Methodist agencies.

Missions were dear to her heart. She took part in United Methodist mission teams to Alaska, Belize, Mexico, Bolivia, and Russia. After her husband’s retirement as a United Methodist pastor they returned to Maui for five years and she once again blessed the spiritual life of many a child. Her ministry always was done in a self-giving and Christ-Centered way.

Margaret is survived by her husband of 61 years, Robert of Ponca City, children: Robert, Jr. and wife Jill, Bryan and wife Patricia, Tams and wife Lee, and Karen Mabry and husband Jason; grandchildren: Sara Brant and husband Ronnie, Rachael Griffith and husband Daniel, “Maggie” Montgomery and fiancé Steven Wainscott; great grandchildren: Charlotte Brant, Dylan Griffith, and one more on the way. She also is blessed with a “bonus” grandson, Tyler Wolfe and his wife Kamrin and their children Gideon, Ayla, and August. Also surviving are her sister, Patricia Ryan and her brother, Rayburn Whitson and his wife Carolyn, sisters in law Mary Whitson and Patti Whitson, brother in law Fred Garrett, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: J.T. Whitson, Crawford Whitson, and Ronnie Whitson, and sister Mary Garrett.

A Celebration of God’s Love will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Following the ceremony, she will be laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Park in Ponca City. Casual attire is appropriate at her ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Margaret’s name to the Opportunity Center, 2225 N. Union, Ponca City, OK 74601 or the charity of your choice.

Source: Trout Funeral Home