Loreta Ruth Montgomery of Willow Park passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2023, with her husband, Gary, at her side.
Loreta was born in Osceola, Texas, on July 18, 1936, to Maley and Ruth Jane (Bryan) Walker. Her family moved from Osceola to Victoria to Houston and then to Whiteface, Texas. She was a true Texan and was even a cotton “puller” as a young girl.
The family left Texas after Loreta’s sophomore year and moved to Robinson, Illinois, or as she liked to call it, “a foreign country.”
After graduating, Loreta worked as a secretary. She met the love of her life, Gary Joe Montgomery, in Robinson. It was a whirlwind romance. They married three months later on September 2, 1956. They had many adventures during their 67 years of marriage. Military and job transfers took them to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and Oklahoma while raising their four children—Leslie, Lisa, Bryan and Sara. They returned to Texas in 1983. Loreta loved the Lord, her family, and her church. She was the most loving wife, daughter, sister, mother, and Nanny and will be deeply missed by all.
Loreta was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law Wendell and Helen Walker, and her son-in-law Clay Giddens.
She is survived by her husband, Gary; children: Leslie Combs of Willow Park, Lisa Giddens of Willow Park, Bryan Montgomery of Willow Park, and Sara Jackson (Matt) of Fort Worth; grandchildren: Jeremy Combs, Joshua Giddens (Alena), Jordan Combs, Sara Giddens, Rebekah Giddens, Madison Salvati (Adam), and Lawson Jackson; great-grandchildren: Abageal Combs, Jacksyn Combs, Jonas Giddens, and another great-grandchild due in August; sisters: Louise St. John (Jim) of Franklin, Ohio, Edith Williams (Vince) of Winter Haven, Florida, Theresa Tighe (Rick) of St. David, Arizona; brother Marvin Walker (Kathy) of Paintsville, Kentucky; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Loreta’s Coming Home Celebration will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at New Faith Baptist Church, 3303 W. FM 5.
The Community News
June 23, 2023
