Joyce Montgomery

Our Dearest Mother, Joyce Alice Montgomery, née Ireland, of Jasper, TX passed from this life on June 18, 2013. She was born in Caribou, ME on November 7, 1929 to Mary Phyllis Locke of Ft. Fairfield, ME and John Louthrup Ireland, Jr. of Presque Isle, ME. She graduated from Falmouth High School in 1947. While at a dance social for shore-leave sailors, she met Doyle Carlton Rudd of Graceville, FL, and they married in 1949 in Exeter, NH. After his discharge from the US Navy in 1950, they traveled by car from Portland, ME to Houston, TX with infant daughter, Linda Isabell Rudd, now of Friendswood, TX. In 1951, second daughter, Susan Carol Rudd, now of Katy, TX, was born. Together she and her husband were owners of Rudd Radio and TV Sales and Service in Houston until they moved in August 1969 to Lowe’s Creek in Hemphill, TX and became owners of the Western Auto Store. There she lived more than 30 years. She was a long time member of the Hemphill VFW Lady’s Auxiliary, and First United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir for many years. She loved to sing!

In 1983 she met the love of her life at a VFW dance, Eveard Montgomery of Many, LA, a retired member of the US Air Force, whom she married in November 1984. “Monty”, a part-time auctioneer, brought auctions, antiquing and travel into her life, and built her a retail shop that she named “Possum Holler”. Sadly, he prematurely preceded her in death in July 1988. In 1990, she sold her property in Hemphill and moved to Jasper, TX. Volunteering at the Lakes Area Hospice became one of her passions. She was also a dynamic member and advocate of the local Senior Citizen program. She was noted for her colorful flowery decorated yard facing 190E which changed with each holiday. She was an avid reader of mystery novels, loved playing dominoes with friends a few times a week, and never missed a chance to dance on Saturday night at the VFW. She loved to dance! And on occasion, she visited the casino across the border to play video poker.

Graveside services will be held at 1pm, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at Forest Park East Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on July 2, 2013 at 1 pm at Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home, 2577 N. Wheeler St., Jasper, TX.

In lieu of flowers, her daughters request memorial donations be made to Lakes Area Hospice, PO Box 2086, Jasper, TX 75951 or Jasper Lakes Area Humane Society, PO Box 1104, Jasper, TX 75951.

A devoted and loving mother of two grateful and admiring daughters, and a faithful, generous friend to all who knew her; she left this world too soon and will forever be missed. We love you momma, Linda and Susie.