Ray Dean Montgomery

Ray Dean Montgomery was born November 28, 1939 in Highlandville, Missouri. He was the only child of Jessie V. Shelton Montgomery and Albert Eugene Montgomery. He spent his younger years in Blackwell, Oklahoma where his father worked as a master cheese maker for Swift & Co. He moved to Hermann, Missouri the year he entered the sixth grade. He resided in Hermann until he was 20. That year he married Roma Miller. They lived in New Haven, Missouri for 2 years. He then joined the Air Force where he spent 21 years and was a Boom Operator on the KC-135 refueling aircraft. After retiring, they moved to Chandler, Arizona.

He attended Arizona State University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. After obtaining a job at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, the couple moved back to Missouri living in St. Charles until the experimental air craft A-12 was cancelled by the government. They then moved to Saudi Arabia where he spent 3 ½ years working for McDonnell services. They then moved back to Arizona where he enjoyed retirement and managing 2 rental houses.

Ray is survived by his wife Roma Montgomery; his daughter Renata R. (Montgomery) Duran; his son in-law Joe M. Duran; and 3 grandsons: Joey M. Duran; Russell C. Duran; and Jayden R. Duran, all residing in Gilbert, Arizona.

A Visitation will be held for Ray from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Monday, February 24, 2014 at Melcher Mission Chapel 6625 E. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85205. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, February 25 at Melcher Mission Chapel with Burial to follow at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024.