Everett Dexter Montgomery

Everett’s military buddies dubbed him “Ed” by his initials and he was called “Ed” from thereon.

Ed was with the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing in the U.S. Air force. He served during the Korean War. He was assigned to the Royal Air Force Base where the Americans were re-opening this closed Air Base in Wethersfield, England, to accommodate air defense during the Russian cold war. Ed was assigned to munitions which included caring for a part of the Atomic Bomb. During his time there he became a sharpshooter. He also completed high school while in the Air Force.

He was very active in church related work while in England with military buddies and the local people.

In 1996, Ed and his wife, Jeanell Goff Montgomery, took a journey to England to “Walk Down Memory Lane”. Ed got to see 5-6 people he had met while serving in England from 1951-1955.

After military service, Ed completed his B.S. Degree in Religious Education from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. During his last year of college he and Jeanell married in May 30, 1958.

They both completed their B.S. Degrees. Then they moved to New Orleans where Ed got his Masters Degree from New Orleans Theological Seminary in Religious Education.

For 10 years Ed worked as a Music/Education Director in Southern Baptist Churches.

In 1968, Ed felt led into the hospital ministry. He completed A.B.S. Degree in Hospital Administration from Oklahoma Baptist University in Oklahoma City. He worked at Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City for 6 years as Personnel Director for one year and then was promoted to Assistant Administrator for the next five years.

The next 14 years he was an Assistant Hospital Administrator for medical services at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Following this, he spent 2 years at the Leake County Hospital and Nursing Home in Carthage, Mississippi. This is where he got his start in Nursing Home work.

He then accepted the position as Administrator of the West Orange Nursing Home now known as Health Central Park in Winter Garden, Florida. He began his work in 1990 and retired in 1997.

Following his retirement, he enjoyed doing interim administrative work at several nursing homes until he experienced a stroke. Helping other people was one of Ed’s sterling qualities and spiritual gifts.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters, and their spouses (Louise Rains, John; Robbie Newel, Charles; Fay Streeter, Forrest); his brother, Clarence and his wife Alva Maxie.

Ed had an older brother, Lamar, who was killed by a land mine on Mortai Island in the Southwest Pacific during WWII.

All of the five living children in Ed’s family were married 50 plus years.

Our dear "Pop" is so loved by us all. Brent is his oldest son and has two children, Bryce Montgomery (20) and Alyssa Montgomery (18). Stuart is married to Vicki and they have Carson Montgomery (21) and Cullen Montgomery (26) who is married to Sydney. They are expecting Pop's first great grandbaby on Thanksgiving Day.

Visitation will be held on Friday October 13, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a Funeral Service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home. 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, Florida 34734.