Marcella Montgomery

November 22, 1916 - February 20, 2020

Marcella Catherine Montgomery, Topeka, Kansas, passed away February 20, 2020, at the age of 103. She was born on November 22, 1916, on the family farm near Baileyville, Kansas to John and Elizabeth Engleken Stitz, and had eight brothers and sisters. Marcella married Robert (Bob) Montgomery on June 14, 1947, and took on the responsibilities of being a mother to his two young daughters who had lost their mother a few years earlier. They had seven more children together. Marcella, along with her husband Bob, ran Montgomery Door Closer Service from their home for many years. The business began in 1943, incorporated in 1976 as Door Controls Inc. and grew to become the largest pedestrian door company in the Midwest. The business employed most of the nine children at one time or another, as well as their spouses and a few grandchildren over the years. They were among the 136 founding families of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church established in 1946 and supported the parish in many ways throughout their lifetime. Marcella enjoyed traveling with her sisters and sister-in-law, Mary Max Kasten, and collecting antique glass. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. She and Bob were members of the Antique Automobile Club of America and the Golden Spokes Antique Car Club. They made lifelong friends and the family enjoyed many outings through the car clubs. Marcella began oil painting in the 70’s and shared her paintings with family and friends for many years. Her walls at Brewster Place, where she moved in 2008, became a gallery of about 50 of her paintings. In 1984 Marcella began volunteering at St. Francis Hospital. At age 94, Marcella retired from her hospital volunteer work. On Sundays for over 25 years, both Marcella and Bob volunteered at the VA Hospital, getting patients to and from the chapel and serving refreshments following Mass. In 1985 the couple took up square dancing and enjoyed this pastime for many years. Not many have seen the world change as Marcella had. From dirt paths to super highways, from well water, outhouses and wood burning stoves to indoor heating and plumbing, from kerosene lanterns to electric light bulbs and mobile phones, from horse and buggy to modern transportation, and so much more. Imagine Marcella and Bob taking their honeymoon in 1947, driving across Kansas to Colorado in a Model A Ford. Marcella leaves two sisters, Alma Mastriogiovanni and Bernita Campo; her children, Mary Wright (John Willey), Rose Anne (Bob) Hubbard, Sharon (Jude) Highberger, Joyce (Gary) Minson, Robert (Kathie) Montgomery III, Dennis (Mary) Montgomery, Michelle (David) Turney, Greg (Terri) Montgomery and Laura (Garth) Will; son in law, Jerry (Bev) Ries; 24 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren,1 great-great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews. Marcella was preceded in death by her husband on December 31, 2006, and by six of her siblings. The Daughters of Isabella will lead a rosary at 4:30 p.m. Monday, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS. Marcella’s family will greet friends from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home where a parish rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.