Dorothy Elizabeth Reese Montgomery
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Dorothy Elizabeth Reese Montgomery, 84, of Plano, Tex., formerly of Du Quoin, went peacefully to meet the Lord at 1:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 at the Prestonwood Court Assisted Living in Plano, Tex. after a short illness.
"Dot" was born Oct. 14, 1925 to George E. and Grace (Higgerson) Reese in rural Perry County and was a life-long resident of Southern Illinois until November 2009. She left the family farm on what is now Reese's Hill Road near Cutler in 1943 to attend Southern Illinois University, where her good friend Geraldine introduced Dot to her home-on-leave brother, Sgt. James T. Montgomery. Dorothy and Jim married on Oct. 12, 1945 at Carbondale, Ill. and had over 50 wonderful years together until his death in June of 1996. She received both bachelors and masters degrees from SIU and taught, primarily 5th Grade at Brush and Thomas schools, in Carbondale for 27 years. After retiring from public education, she had a long career as a volunteer in many organizations in Jackson County and, after moving to Du Quoin in 1989, Perry County. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Du Quoin after many years at Walnut Street Baptist Church in Carbondale. Dorothy worked for many years with the International Students at SIU teaching English as a Second Language and hosting many of them in her home, as well as being a member of the Jackson and Perry County Historical Societies, the Marshall Browning Hospital Auxiliary, the Perry County Retired Teachers Association, the Home Extension, Domestic Science group, and taught Sunday School for many years at both Walnut Street and First Baptist Church.
Dorothy is survived by her son - J. Thomas Montgomery, Jr. and wife Rita of Lewisville, Tex., grandson - Jeffery Montgomery and wife Lisa of McKinney, Tex., granddaughter - Allison Bobbitt and husband Jeff of Savanah, Tex., three sisters - Rosalie Snider and husband Bryan of Sikeston, Mo., Edna Torina of Orange, Calif., and Georgine Garvey of Ferguson, Mo., seven great grandchildren - Katherine, Julian, and Sheridan Montgomery, James Martin and Elizabeth, Zelda, and Sydney Bobbitt, and many nieces and nephews including Jon Montgomery and wife Jane and Luke Montgomery of Du Quoin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sisters - Ruby Bigham and Loraine Lively.
Funeral services celebrating Dorothy's life were at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Du Quoin with Rev. Joe Wagner officiating.
Friends called from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Saturday.
Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery at Carbondale.
Friends may make memorials to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or Perry County Historical Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin is in charge of arrangements.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.