Georgia Montgomery

Georgia Marie (Morris) Montgomery, age 95, of West, passed away Thursday morning, March 21, 2013 at West Rest Haven in West. A rosary will be recited 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Aderhold Funeral Home in West by Rev. Boniface Onjefu, followed by a visitation until 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 2:30 p.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Very Rev. Ed Karasek and Rev. Boniface Onjefu as celebrants. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Mrs. Montgomery was born September 26, 1917 in West, the daughter of August J. and Mary Lillian (Peters) Morris. She was a graduate of West High School and 4C Business College in Waco. On September 3, 1939 she was united in marriage to Wendel O. Montgomery, her high school sweetheart. He preceded her in death on March 17, 2003. Their marriage marked the beginning of a 63 year collaboration in business and civic affairs with the purchase of the Old Corner Drug Store in 1941. In 1952, the Montgomerys established The Village Bakery in West, the first all-Czech bakery in Texas, which pioneered the kolache trend and originated the klobasniki. The bakery became widely known throughout Central Texas and elsewhere for its authentic pastries and bread, and for this, publications referred to Wendel as the "Godfather of Kolaches". In 1973, Georgia and sisters, Lucille Price and Gladys Quilter purchased The Famous and renamed it The Village Shoppe. The Montgomerys helped organize the West Fair and Rodeo Association, as well as the West Longhorn Club. They were founding members of St. Mary's Mustangs Quarterback Club, West Community Hospital, and Westfest. They were chosen as Westfest Parade Marshals in 1989 to honor their many years of service. Georgia began her lifelong devotion to her faith as a graduate of St. Mary's school and member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, Catholic Daughters of America Court #829, St. Anne's Altar Society, St. Mary's School Alumni Association, and many other religious affiliations. As a descendent of early Czech settlers, John R. Peter and Rosalie Divin Peter, Georgia developed an avid interest in her Czech heritage. In 1920, her father, August J. Morris and partners organized the Czechoslovak Publishing Company which produced the West News and the Vestnik. August was a founding member of Sokol in 1910. Georgia and her sisters Gladys and Lucille helped re-establish the organization in 1978. Another area of interest includes SPJST Lodge #54, the McLennan-Hill Counties Chapter of the Czech Heritage Society of Texas and The McLennan County Historical Commission. Survivors include a daughter, Mimi Montgomery Irwin of West; sisters, Lucille Price and Gladys Quilter and husband James; nephews, John M. Price and wife Brenda; nieces, Mary Suzanne Price, Patricia Arms and husband Geoff; great nephews, Austin Price and John T. Price and wife Rachel; great nieces, Lauren Beck and husband Chris; great great nephew, Christopher Beck; great great nieces, Sadie Ann Price and Lillian Josephine Beck; and many other relatives and friends. Georgia is also preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Lillian Morris Brewington. Active pallbearers are Dr. Billy D. Pierce, Douglas Pierce, David Pierce, Kirk Wines, Johnny Mynar, Garnett Davis, Joe Mashek, James Cauble, Wesley Filer and James Pavlicek Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Jerome Lednicky Jr., J.D. Biggs, David Moon, Dr. George Smith, Joe Edd Grimm, Sammy Sykora, Joe Kotch, Ed Sykora, Russ Willsey, Terry Reddell, John Hurtick, Linn Pescaia, George Meurer, Wilburn Willis, Raymond "Popeye" Snokhous, Van Massirer, Daniel Moravec and Tommy Muska. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's School Library, West Museum Fund or the W. R. Poage Legislative Library at Baylor University. The family of Georgia deeply appreciates the loving care and prayers from all in the community of West. We especially would like to thank West Rest Haven, all employees of The Village Bakery, The Village Shoppe, and Old Corner Drug Store, past and present, her St. Mary's Catholic Church Family, the Billy D. Pierce and James Pavlicek Families, Sandra Daily, Dianne Friend, Kirk Wines, Meals on Wheels, and Providence Hospital.