John Prate Montgomery passed away peacefully at his home on July 29, 2024. He was born on March 26, 1945 in Oktibbeha County to the late Alvin Lavell Montgomery and Jessie Prater Montgomery. He was a lifelong resident of Oktibbeha County, and he enjoyed the community until his very last day. Over his life he was known as Prate to his friends and Papa to his grandchildren.
Prate was a graduate of Starkville High School and Mississippi State University. He received a degree in General Agriculture. He was always interested in agriculture, and following graduation from MSU, he began his professional career with Mississippi Farm Bureau, and he retired after fifty-one years as the Agency Manager for Oktibbeha and Choctaw County. Prate was very dedicated to his long-time customers and the Oktibbeha County Farm Bureau building is dedicated in his name.
Prate was an avid hunter, fisherman, and all-around outdoorsman. He especially loved turkey hunting in Bradley, Mississippi. Second only to hunting, he had a passion for dirt track racing, where he frequented the local tracks every opportunity that he could. Prate owned many of his own race cars, and he often traveled to Daytona and other races around the country. In his younger years, he traveled the world with his Farm Bureau family.
He is survived by his son, John Prate Montgomery, Jr. (Melissa); his grandchildren, Madeline Montgomery, and John Nathaniel Montgomery; as well as his brother, Monty Montgomery (Mary) of Knoxville, TN; and sister, Kay McReynolds of Starkville, MS.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his late wife, Brenda Joyce Montgomery; and brother-in-law, John T. McReynolds, Sr.
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, August 1, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Starkville, MS at 9:00 a.m., with funeral services immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Andy Brown and Rev. Clifton Curtis will conduct the service. Burial will be in Memorial Garden Park Cemetery in Starkville.
Active pallbearers will be: Johnny Smith, Troy Jones, William Hilbun, Allen Edwards, Blake Garrard, and Will Hutchinson. Honorary pallbearers will be: Buddy Prisock, Noah Smith, Keith McMinn, Bo McKee, Russ McReynolds, Tom McReynolds, Adam Montgomery, Bo Vickers, Roy Fisher, Doug Barnett, Bobb (BB) Betts, and Bryan (Smiley) Mattison.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial gifts to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 106 E. Lampkin St., Starkville, MS 39759.
