ALBEN (TOM) MONTGOMERY

Houston resident Alben (Tom) Montgomery, 61, died suddenly of a heart attack, Jan. 4, 2002, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.

A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, at the Houston Lodge at Mile 57 Parks Hwy. His ashes will be scattered at the Little Su River.

Mr. Montgomery was born March 14, 1940, in Greenup County, Ky. He moved to Alaska in 1967. He lived in Ketchikan for 20 years, in the Anchorage area for 10 years and he resided in Houston until his death. He moved to Ketchikan in 1967 as a service oiler, joining Local 302 Operating Engineers Union. Since then, he worked throughout Alaska as a heavy-equipment operator for more than 25 years.

In 1996, he retired and settled in Houston. In addition to being a member of the Operating Engineers Local 302, Mr. Montgomery was also a member of Mid Valley Senior Citizens and Moose Lodge No. 224 in Ketchikan. He founded the "Concerned Citizens of Houston."

Mr. Montgomery enjoyed fishing, hunting and "stirring up the community pot," according to his family. His family also said, "Tom enjoyed the state of Alaska from which he never moved once, becoming a resident in 1967. Each job he chose was one located in a remote or rural part of Alaska. He worked in many areas, including Prudhoe Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Dutch Harbor, Tok, Smithishium Dam, Wrangell and other places too numerous to list. This was sure to lend to his independent nature. Throughout his career he was continually a member of the Operating Engineers Local 302. Each location Tom found himself in he was sure to find the local Moose Lodge."

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta; both of his parents, Lawrence and Ethel Montgomery; and his younger brother, Raymond Montgomery.

He is survived by his brothers, James Montgomery, Hal Montgomery, Robert Montgomery, Virgil Montgomery; and his sisters, Maxine Potter, Matty Newberry, Judy Newberry, Brenda Darnell and Eula Durbin. He is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Timothy and Katie Montgomery and their children, William and Thomas, of Ketchikan, son and daughter-in-law, Randall and Cindy Montgomery and their children, Jessica, Crystal and Justin, of Ketchikan; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Ron Kavanaugh and their children, Ronnie, Miranda, Sylvia and Garrett, of Kodiak and daughter and son-in-law, Karline and Mark Brouillet and their children, McKenzy, Mark Jr., Jordan and Megan, of Wasilla.

The time he spent with each grandchild was time he cherished, his family said. Among those times he spent with them, he attended state champion baseball tournaments and taught them to fish and smoke salmon. Most importantly, he shared with them how to enjoy life with a smile. After retirement, Mr. Montgomery formed many friendships in the Anchorage, Kenai and Houston areas. His family said he was also always lending a hand to those down on their luck, offering shelter and friendship where it was needed.

Memorial donations may be sent to Moose Heart Foundation, c/o Moose International, Mooseheart, Ill. 60539.

Arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.