Larry Dean Montgomery, age 90, went home to be with his Lord on July 30, 2026. Born on November 4, 1935, in Louisville, KY, Larry grew up on a small farm near Chaplin, KY. Those years shaped him into the hard-working, humble man that he became.
How do you write an obituary for someone who doesn’t want one? When Dad was in the hospital the last time, we asked him a bunch of questions about his accomplishments and his life. He gave us the answers we asked for, but he prefaced them with, “Don’t brag on me. Just say whatever you need to say to make you all feel good.” We could write about him growing up on a farm in Kentucky, his hard-earned engineering degree (Go Wildcats!), his time as a First Lieutenant in the Army, or his 36 years working as an Army civilian and finishing his career as a Senior Research Scientist with the University of Alabama in Huntsville, but that wasn’t who he was. Maybe we should write about him being a founding member of Mayfair Church of Christ and his 67 years of service with that congregation. But still, that’s not him. Dad lived his life quietly, under the radar. Growing up, he would always take a daily walk. We later learned that these walks were actually daily visits to the woods near our house where he would go to pray. When asked about his favorite scripture, he didn’t have just one. Romans 12:21 was mentioned often, but he quoted Ecclesiastes 12:13 frequently: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” He lived that verse out every day and spent his life pointing people to Jesus.
Larry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary “Shug” Montgomery, and his three daughters, Deanne Foy (Alan), Sandra Farthing (Kent), and Kathy Dashner (Max). He was also blessed with five grandchildren: Jim Foy, Dean Farthing (Holly), Miranda Warren (Carson), Rose Dashner, and Isaac Dashner; and his great-granddaughter, Charlie Jo Warren, and her brother or sister who is expected later this year. He also leaves behind a sister, Jeannie Koerber, and many nieces and nephews.
We will miss him deeply, but we do not grieve without hope. The faith that guided Larry throughout his life is the same hope that comforts us now. His greatest desire was that others would know the peace that comes from walking with Christ, and we can think of no better way to honor his life than to share the words that meant so much to him: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” – 2 Peter 1:2
A graveside service will be held at Valhalla Memory Gardens, Sunday at 2:00 PM.
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