Mary Louise (Strohl) Montgomery

Mary Montgomery was born Feb. 18, 1917, in Quincy, Illinois, to Dr. Harley and Eva (Gill) Strohl. Mary passed away Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Astoria.

Mrs. Montgomery was a graduate of the class of 1939 at the University of Illinois, with a major in fine arts. She was granted a year’s study with Frederic Taubes, an Italian painter. She was a member of Illustrators International (an honorary fraternity). She maintained a studio and painted many portraits while also employed by Garrard Press as art editor and job estimator. She later became a cartographer, then apprenticed as an editor with Kingsport Press.

In 1941, Mary married Ensign Mark V. Montgomery Jr. They divorced in 1969. They had three children, Mark III, David P. and daughter Kristin. Cmdr. Montgomery and their son, David, preceded her in death, along with a grandson, Ethan Montgomery.

As a Navy wife, Mrs. Montgomery continued to paint many portraits, landscapes and still life, throughout the U.S. and British Territories until she became legally blind in 2003. She maintained a lively interest in art, politics and Bible study, and was a member of the First Congregational Church, although she was baptized in St. John’s Cathedral, in Quincy, Illinois, of which she had fond memories. She was also church organist and choir director of the Navy Chapel in Trinidad, British West Indies, from 1947-1948. She later taught in a private school and sang at the Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.

In later years, Mrs. Montgomery studied social work at Winthrop College in South Carolina and became a children’s protective service worker for the states of Maryland and Florida. Upon retiring in 1980, she moved from Winter Park, Florida, to Astoria, where she was employed as a library assistant for 11 years at the Astoria Library.

She is survived by her son, Mark V. Montgomery III and daughter-in-law, Tomelene, of Lompoc, California; daughter Kristin M. Johnson and son-in-law, Jeffery H. Johnson, of Astoria; granddaughter Jasmine Swank and her husband, Shannon, of Astoria; grandson Michael Montgomery of Boulder, Colorado; grandson Daniel Montgomery and his wife, Morgana, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; grandson Matthew White and his wife, Davina, of Templeton, California; five great-grandchildren, Solice Swank of Astoria and Ethan, Isaiah, Emma and Jaiden White of Templeton, California.

A special remembrance for a longtime friend, Pat Miller. Special thanks to Brent and Renee Kahle for providing 2 1/2 years of loving care and friendship. The Kahles became, and will continue to be, part of Mary’s family.

Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, from 10 to noon at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave., Astoria, Oregon.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at 1 p.m. at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary.

Private vault interment will be at Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton, Oregon.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Clatsop County Animal Shelter, 1315 S.E. 19th St., Warrenton, OR 97146, or to a charity of one’s choice.