Jack McArthur Montgomery

MOULTRIE - Jack McArthur Montgomery, 75, of Moultrie, passed away on February 15, 2024.   

A graveside Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, February 18, 2024, in Westview Cemetery in Moultrie.

The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:30 PM on Sunday before the service at Cobb Funeral Chapel in Moultrie. 

Casketbearers will be Gio Parrish, Dennard Robinson, Carl Gregory, Buster Clements, Saxby Chambliss and Al Whittington.

He was born on February 8, 1949, in Plains, Georgia to the late Robert L. (Bob) and Thelma M. Montgomery.   From the start, his independent spirit was making itself known as stories were told of him taking off on his tricycle as a preschooler and being seen riding around all over Plains.

At age 5, the family moved to Moultrie which was a town and community that he dearly loved and would spend a lifetime here among friends and family.  Jack enjoyed every outdoor activity from fishing and hunting to playing every kind of sport all throughout his school years.  He was also the straight A student in the family, always excelling at whatever he did.  After high school, he attended the University of Georgia, receiving a scholarship to play football.  After graduation, he returned to Moultrie to build a career in sales and raise a family.   He would tell you that his proudest achievement was found in his two sons, Mac and Marc, who also call Moultrie home.

That independent spirit became one of his hallmarks.  He enjoyed having friends and family over and grilling and having a good time and he loved just sitting on the beach in perfect silence staring at the ocean.  He was a man of few words with a big heart.   He never sought to be the center of attention or ever talked about himself or his achievements.  He was always quick to do for those he loved and if you needed help, he came.  He had a great sense of humor and plenty of quirks.  He could be counted on to show up at Thanksgiving, no matter how cold it was, wearing shorts and flip flops and he was always early, never ever late.

In truth, Jack was the one of the four siblings most like his mother.  They shared an impish streak, feisty and quick witted.  Whenever, as a teenager, he made his mother angry, he would use his wit and charm and, in the end, she would end up laughing with him.   They shared a love for rooting for the underdog (unless they were playing the Dawgs).  Both were humble and thoughtful and were peacemakers at heart. Jack was quick to forgive and was not one to speak ill of other people.  He was generous and especially devoted to family. 

Let this story tell you who he really was.  As he was driving down the road one day running errands, he saw an elderly woman walking on the side of the road carrying an empty bag.  He stopped beside her and asked her if she needed a ride.   She told him she was on the way to the convenience store to buy groceries.  He asked her if she would like to go to a regular grocery store and the woman was thrilled when he told her he would wait for her to shop then drive her back home.  He helped her into his truck, took her to the store, returned her home and carried in her groceries.  Those of us who knew him best knew his kindheartedness.

Jack was a devoted father and grandfather and is survived by two sons, Mac Montgomery (Mary Beth Demott) and Marc Montgomery; and three grandchildren, Madison Montgomery, Harrison Brown, and Julia Reed Brown.  Jack is also survived by one brother, Bob Montgomery, Jr. (late Cindy Yancey), and two sisters, Lynn Montgomery Overton, and Carol Jean Montgomery Wells (Jim Wells) as well as many nieces and nephews.

For those desiring, memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to your favorite charity. 

Cobb Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.