To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 4/7/13 • Approved: 4/9/13 • Last Updated: 4/12/13 • R860023-G0-S3
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS US Army
90 Division Company M 357 Battalion
World War II
August 29, 1924 - June 8, 2011
Purple Heart
Born Bexar, Fulton County, Arkansas
Died Mountain Home, Baxter County, Arkansas
Son of Owen Jeff & Edna Moser Montgomery
Married Karlena Sanders, December 15, 1946, Byron, Fulton County, Arkansas
The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Arkansas, June 11, 2011:
Ralph Cecil Montgomery, of Viola, son of the late Owen Jeff Montgomery and Edna Moser Montgomery, was born August 29, 1924 in Bexar, AR. He died June 8, 2011 at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, at the age of 86 years 9 months and 10 days.
He was united in marriage to Karlena Sanders December 15, 1946 at Byron, Arkansas. He was a 1942 graduate of Viola High School. He served in the Merchant Marines and the Army, 90th Division, Company M, 357 Battalion during WWII and earned a Purple Heart. He was a member of the Viola Masonic Lodge and the Viola Baptist Church. He had a great love for fox hunting and fishing and he was a great mechanic. He was employed by the Arkansas State Highway Department for thirty years, retiring in 1981 as well as the Fulton County Road Crew.
Survivors include his daughters, Sandy Sanders of Salem, Linda Ciallellia (Tony) of Lexington, TN, Anita Johnson (Jeff) of Jonesboro, Shelia Berry (Ray) of Mountain Home, Yvonne Zeigler (Kelly) of Salem, Nanette Carter (Rick) of Pocahontas; twelve grandchildren, Cecelia Slone (Kirk), Deion Sanders (Shelly), Kassie Boles (Ashley), Heather Everett (Marty), Austin Prewilt (Lindsey), Aaron Johnson (Joslyn), Laura Bean (Zac), Daniel Berry (Angela), Lindsey Ervin (Brandon), Trent and Tate Zeigler and Kristen Carter; twenty-five great-grandchildren, Eden, Lilia, Carly, Owen, Simon, Natalie, Noah, Hayden, Easton, Dawson, Noland, Theron, Barron, Kyson, Damon, Kylie, Allie, Abby, Alyson, Katie, Micha, Kimber, Laykin, Rylan and Keaton; two sisters, Opal Smith of Bernie, MO and Shirley Doyle (Gene) of Henrico, NC., and twelve nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, a sister, Patricia Ann Martin, a brother, James Montgomery, nephew, Steve Montgomery, 2 sons-in-law, Darrell Sanders and Boyd Shrable and his father and mother.
Funeral services are at 2 pm Saturday June 11, 2011 at Viola Baptist Church with burial in Viola Cemetery under the direction of Cox-Blevins Funeral Home of Salem. Visitation is Friday from 6 to 8 pm in Cox-Blevins Chapel. Pallbeares are Deion Sanders, Daniel Berry, Trent Zeigler, Aaron Johnson, Austin Prewitt and Tate Zeigler. Honorary Pallbeares are Vernon Copeland, Lamar Sanders, David Jennings, Carmen Sanders, Gene Doyle, Marvin Martin, Elwin and Kelvin Wray, Lance and Heath Humphries, Donald and Adam Montgomery, Mark and Matt Martin, Michael Doyle, Jerry, Charles and Randy Smith, Donny and Denny Perryman, Frank Oliver, Charles Sherman, Thurman (Dorwood) Crouch, Donnie Bryant, Harold Dean Turner and Porter Howell. Memorials may be made to The Viola Masonic Lodge.
(See family memorial)
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 4/7/13 by maxparnell
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 860023