Ilene May Montz, Neosho, passed from this life on Friday, June 26, 2009, following a long illness.
She was born to Gladys Leah and Charles Grove Geer, in Newton, Kan., on Dec. 28, 1938 and grew up in Newton, Marquette and Salina, Kan.
She moved with her sisters, Nola and Joyce to Pasadena, Calif., and then to Santa Barbara, Calif., where she met and married Robin Montz in 1964. She worked as a young woman in a number of jobs in Kansas and then worked as a ward clerk and nurses’ aide at Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Hospital in Santa Barbara. She also worked as a teacher’s aide at Hollister Elementary School in Goleta, Calif., but for most of her life, she was a stay-at-home mom.
The family moved to Missouri in 1977.
She and Robin raised six children and have been very proud of them and their accomplishments.
She is survived by her husband, Robin and their six children, Keith and wife, Cathy, Neosho, Darrell, Bella Vista, Ark., Jeannine Harrison, Keokuk, Iowa, Stephen and wife, Dixie, Bella Vista, David and wife, Jennifer, Ft. Worth, Texas, and Michelle Reil and husband, Mark, St. Joseph, Mo.; 20 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Nola Bixler, Springfield, Mo.; brother, Dale Young, Olathe, Kan.; and step-mother, Wanda Young, Salina, Kan.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Joyce Ralston.
She also leaves behind some dear friends, Bill and Beverly Lewis, Neosho, Rex and Helen Black, Joplin, Barbara and Bennie DeBortoli, Santa Maria, Calif., Arleen and Bob Nicholson, Tom and Maggie Devaney and Rod and Jan Duncan, all of Santa Barbara.
Ilene was a strong person, fierce advocate for her children, loving wife and mother. She loved spoiling her grandchildren and keeping peace in the family. She will be greatly missed.
Services for Ilene will be private.
Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Neosho First Christian Church Memorial Fund in her name.
Online condolences may be posted at www.clarkfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are under direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho.
