March 26, 1926 – January 22, 2015
Dr. Ernest Doyle Montgomery’s favorite Bible passage was, “Finally, Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praise worth – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace wil be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9.
Dr. Montgomery tried to uphold that passage whenever possible in life. He was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue and was dedicated to his community, both locally and globally. Dr.Montgomery gently passed away on Jan. 22, 2015, at Sipes Adult Homecare in SeaTac, where he lived the past three and half years.
Dr. Montgomery was born March 26 ,1926, in Haubstadt, IN, to Conrad Irwin and Ruby Montgomery. He graduated from Haubstadt High School in 1944. He entered the Army Air Corps in January 1946, serving the majority of his time in Alaska as a weather and teletype technician until his discharge in September 1950. He then entered the State College of Washington, earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in June 1955.
Dr. Montgomery was very active and involved in the veterinary community during his career. He opened his first practice. Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital, in Seattle in 1956. On May 1963, he opened Five Corners Veterinary Hospital in Burien with his colleague, Frank Lindeke, DVM. Dr. Montgomery was active in the Seattle Veterinary Medical Association, Washington State Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association serving in leadership positions. Washington Governor Booth Gardner appointed him to the Veterinary Board of Governors, where he served from 1994 – 1999. Dr. Montgomery retired in June 1997 and established the Dr. E. Doyle and Mrs. Matilda Montgomery Endowment Fund at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, to help students fulfill their dreams of becoming doctors of veterinary medicine.
Dr. Montgomery loved his family, life and saw the beauty of each day. He believed in positive thinking and enjoyed phases such as Author Hal Borland’s “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” He enjoyed gardening, cooking, community activities, skiing, reading, and traveling domestically and to countries aboard. He served on the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees and later as a Trustee Ambassador. Additionally, he served on the College of Veterinary Medicine Campaign Committee, WSU Foundation Gift Acceptance Cabinet and WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital Committee. He was a WSU Foundation Outstanding Service Award Recipient.
He is predeceased by his brother, Clifford Montgomery of Haubstadt, IN, and Sister Mariam (Montgomery) Bender of Poseyville, IN. He is survived by his wife Matilda Montgomery, whom he married in 1986 and brother David Montgomery of Rogersville, AL He also is survived by daughter Sandra Roberts (Jeff) of Kent by wife Elinor Herfurth; and by daughter Tami Montgomery of by wife Sandi Coffin, Also survived by step-daughters Tarina Baldwin Jenkins (Dave) and MiLinda Baldwin Monaghan (P.J.); and grandchildren Justine Roberts, Kaitlyn Roberts Romain (Josh), Terry Baldwin, Sage Baldwin, Kendal Monaghan and Cruz Monaghan.
A memorial celebration will be held this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Montgomery’s memory to the Montgomery Scholarship Endowment at the College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647010, Pullman, WA 99164.
Published in The Seattle Times on Feb. 15, 2015