Paula Ruth Montgomery

Paula Ruth Montgomery, age 68, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Paula was born in 1953 in Knoxville, Tennessee as the oldest of four children. As a child, she studied piano and cultivated a love of art and design. She taught herself to sew and frequented Miller’s Department Store to purchase fabric which she transformed into handmade dresses. Her love of fashion and accessorizing was evident in her ever-growing Barbie collection.

Paula graduated from Karns High School and pursued higher education before achieving her ultimate dream of becoming a wife and mother. She met her future husband, Lee, on a Ski trip, and they enjoyed dating during the 1982 World’s Fair. Paula married Lee on April 30, 1983, at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, achieving a lengthy and loving marriage of 38 years. They enjoyed many travels together including vacations to Greece, Turkey, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and most recently to Napa Valley with their family.

Paula was known as the hostess with the mostest with an impeccable attention to detail. She enjoyed being well-dressed and accessorized with beautiful jewelry and shoes. She frequently set a beautiful table with rotating china patterns and fresh flowers. Her pantry was so well stocked that her family joked she could grocery shop in her own kitchen. Paula was happiest with a home full of family and friends who were always well fed. Paula devoted her time to her three children, Lauren, Will, and Nathan, assuring their success in competitive swimming, scouts, their education, and, most importantly, their faith. She used her talents as a self-taught seamstress to create their elaborate and award-winning Halloween costumes. She was giving not only to her family but also to others. Paula regularly volunteered her time at her children’s school by serving as a Room Mom and assisting with art classes. Paula also served as a Sunday School teacher and organized ticket distributions for church Christmas concerts at Cedar Springs.

Paula cherished her granddaughters, Harper and Caroline, and looked forward to “weekly spend-the-nights” and snuggles, even creating a room in her home just for them. She was elated at the recent birth of her four-month-old grandson, Tripp, and looked forward to him joining in on the fun. Her grandchildren were her strength as she battled and eventually conquered a cancer diagnosis.

Paula dreamed of owning a baby grand piano, which was affectionately placed in her favorite sitting area- her sunroom. Here she took delight in sitting and gazing at the reflection of the sunlight on the lake which she described as “watching the diamonds dance on the water”. Paula is remembered as a wonderful wife, loving mother, and woman of faith by all that knew her. While we as her family will fiercely miss her with all our heart, we know she will be watching over and protecting us until we meet again. As spoken in Hebrews 12:1, she is now part of the great cloud of witnesses.

Paula is preceded in death by her parents, Jewell and Reverend Paul Cloud and brother, Robert "Bob" Cloud.

Paula is survived by her husband, Lee William Montgomery; children, Lauren Ruth Montgomery Hightower (Dillon), Lee William Montgomery, Jr. (Allison) and Nathan Scott Montgomery; brother, William "Bill" Cloud; sister, Gayle Cloud; grandchildren, Harper Ruth Hightower, Caroline Hutton Hightower and Lee William Montgomery III (Tripp).

A visitation will be held for Paula on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from 5 -7pm at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church Chapel with a funeral service to follow. A graveside service will be held at 3pm on Wednesday, January 12 at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Montgomery family.