Peter J Motisi

Mr. Motisi was born to Sicilian Immigrant parents on “The Hill” in St. Louis, MO, in 1923. He was raised and lived in Closter, NJ, until enlisting in the Air Force during World War II. While training as a B29 Flight Engineer in Montgomery, Alabama, he met and married Ellen Chalkley. They remained in Montgomery, raising two daughters, Sharon and Donna. They were married for 71 years.

After the War, Mr. Motisi became the first Program Director of the Montgomery Boy’s Club, a position and distinction which he regarded with great pride and esteem. He went on to become an architect and engineer, designing hospitals and buildings for Sherlock, Smith, and Adams, and Folmar and Flinn, including the Atomedic Hospital used at the 1964 World’s Fair. He held 19 different professional licenses including general contractor, land surveyor, real estate broker, master plumber, electrician, structural engineer, and private pilot. He ultimately opened his own firm, Motisi Associated Engineers, and designed and built 70+ water systems across Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. He was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and enjoyed flying until his final instrument landing at the age of 80.

After retiring from engineering, he devoted himself to the eradication of illiteracy, founding Motisi Associated Literacy Missions. Mr. Motisi tutored in prisons, churches, and at MacMillan International Academy for over 20 years, and became affectionately known to his students and their families as “Mr. Pete”. During that time he developed the Clover+ instructional reading method (codeofreading.com that is being reconstructed at the moment) which he presented at a variety of educational conferences nationally.

Mr. Motisi and his wife were faithful members of First Baptist Church for over 40 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Girolamo and Francesca Motisi, and his brother Joseph Motisi.

Mr. Motisi is survived by his wife, Ellen Chalkley Motisi, daughter and son in-law, Sharon and Ron Myers, and daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter, Donna Doten, Dr. Kendra Doten, and LuLu Doten Maier.

He was greatly beloved, and now sorely missed.

A visitation will be held on Friday, October 7, 2016 from 1:00-2:00PM at Leak Memory Chapel. A chapel service will began at 2:00PM with burial following in Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Montgomery County Library or the Library of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery. Online condolences may be made at www.leak-mc.com