Morris Charles Montgomery Sr.

Morris Charles Montgomery Sr., proud husband, father, grandfather and longstanding businessman in Southeast Missouri, died at the age of 82 years on Friday, January 10, 2020, with his family by his side. Morris was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on June 5, 1937, son of the late Bernice B. (Horstman) Montgomery and Paul C. Montgomery. He and Betty L. Cline were married on November 17, 1957. Morris graduated from Chaffee High School in 1955. He was on the 1954 Conference Championship Football team and was a proud Chaffee Red Devils supporter all his life. Morris’s first job at age 8 was popping popcorn for his parents at the Horstman Theatre in Chaffee, Missouri. Later he helped manage the Montgomery Drive Inn Theatre at Blomeyer, MO. Morris was a brakeman for the Frisco Railroad for 10 years. In 1962, Morris and his wife Betty founded Montgomery Mobile Homes Sales at Blomeyer. During the next 30 years, Morris, and his business partner Jim Sides, founded Cape Mobile Home Mart and opened 23 dealerships in numerous states. The company was ranked in the Top 10 of the top 100 Mobile Home Dealers in the nation, and Morris took great pride in the relationships he built through the mobile home business. Morris loved hunting and fishing with his family and friends at his Illinois farm. He enjoyed traveling, football, Western movies, and Cardinal baseball games; however, most of all he loved spending time with his family. He was at his best with his family, and they will carry Morris’ advice, sense of humor, life lessons, and love with them through time. Morris was a member of the Chaffee First United Methodist Church, the Missouri Manufactured Housing Association, the Flaming Pit Club, and the Mo Press Club at BG’s for many years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend who had a wonderful sense of humor and a BIG smile that will be missed by all of his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Betty L. Montgomery of Chaffee; one daughter Jeanette (Montgomery) Wachter and husband Scott of Chaffee; two sons Monty Montgomery and wife Missy of Cape Girardeau and Chris Montgomery of Chaffee; one brother Paul D. Montgomery of Russellville, AR; 4 grandchildren - Zachary Wachter of New York, NY; Charlie Montgomery and Melissa Jobe of Nashville, TN; Peyton Montgomery and Selina Cena of Chaffee; Jessica Ross of Jackson; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, many friends, and his beagle Spot who were a special part of his life. The family will be welcoming Morris’ great grandson John Emmanual (Manny) Montgomery who is due later this month. The family would like to thank Morris’s Caretakers (Mo’s Angels) for the love and care that they have given him for the past two years. In addition, the family expresses their gratitude to St. Francis Hospital, Chaffee Nursing Center, and Legacy Hospice for their wonderful care and support to Morris and to the family for the past two weeks. The family wishes to invite friends to celebrate and honor Morris’ life from 4:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, January 14, at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. The funeral will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, at the Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel, with Pastor Gwen Streeter and Pastor Marty Blakey officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau. Memorial contributions may be made to: ~Chaffee Alumni Association, PO Box 172, Chaffee, MO; ~Chaffee Booster Club, Attention N. Hermann Athletic Director, 517 West Yoakum, Chaffee, MO; ~Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

Morris Charles Montgomery Sr.

June 5, 1937 - January 10, 2020