Morris Montgomery Sr.

Morris Charles Montgomery Sr., proud husband, father, grandfather and longstanding businessman in Southeast Missouri, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, at the age of 82, with his family by his side.

He was born June 5, 1937, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Bernice B. Horstman Montgomery and Paul C. Montgomery. He and Betty L. Cline were married Nov. 17, 1957.

Morris graduated from Chaffee (Missouri) High School in 1955. He was on the 1954 conference championship football team and was a proud Chaffee Red Devils supporter all his life.

Morris' first job at age 8 was popping popcorn for his parents at Horstman Theater in Chaffee. Later, he helped manage Montgomery Drive-In Theater at Blomeyer, Missouri.

Morris was a brakeman for Frisco Railroad for 10 years. In 1962, Morris and his wife, Betty, founded Montgomery Mobile Homes Sales at Blomeyer. During the next 30 years, Morris and his business partner, Jim Sides, founded Cape Mobile Home Mart and opened 23 dealerships in numerous states. The company was ranked in the top 10 of the top 100 mobile-home dealers in the nation. Morris took great pride in the relationships he built through the mobile-home business.

Morris loved hunting and fishing with his family and friends at his Illinois farm. He enjoyed traveling, football, Western movies and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. However, most of all, he loved spending time with his family. He was at his best with his family, and they will carry Morris' advice, sense of humor, life lessons and love with them through time.

Morris was a member of Chaffee First United Methodist Church, Missouri Manufactured Housing Association, Flaming Pit Club and Mo Press Club at BG's for many years.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, who had a wonderful sense of humor and a big smile that will be missed by all of his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Betty L. Montgomery of Chaffee; daughter, Jeanette Montgomery (Scott) Wachter of Chaffee; sons, Monty (Missy) Montgomery of Cape Girardeau and Chris Montgomery of Chaffee; brother, Paul D. Montgomery of Russellville, Arkansas; grandchildren, Zachary Wachter of New York City, Charlie Montgomery (Melissa Jobe) of Nashville, Tennessee, Peyton Montgomery (Selina Cena) of Chaffee and Jessica Ross of Jackson; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, many friends, and his beagle, Spot, who were a special part of his life. The family will be welcoming Morris' great-grandson, John Emmanual "Manny" Montgomery, who is due later this month.

The family would like to thank Morris' caretakers -- Mo's Angels -- for the love and care they gave him the past two years. In addition, the family expresses its gratitude to Saint Francis Medical Center, Chaffee Nursing Center and Legacy Hospice for their wonderful care and support of Morris and the family for the past two weeks.

The family wishes to invite friends to celebrate and honor Morris' life from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with Pastor Gwen Streeter and Pastor Marty Blakey officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be made to Chaffee Alumni Association, P.O. Box 172, Chaffee, MO 63740; Chaffee Booster Club, Attention N. Hermann Athletic Director, 517 W. Yoakum, Chaffee, MO 63740; or Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.