Alton J. Montgomery
Alton Jarvis Montgomery, a longtime resident of Odessa, Texas passed to his heavenly home December 9, 2021.
Visitation will be held at McNett Funeral home in Andrews, Texas on Saturday, December 18, 2021, from 12:00PM - 1:30PM followed by a graveside service at Andrews Old Cemetery at 2:00PM.
Alton was born the second of three sons on 1 July 1932 to Ozella Brown Montgomery and Lon Willis Montgomery in Ackerly, Texas. The family moved to Gaines County where Alton worked on the family farm and graduated from Seminole High School in 1950. He was a two-year letterman in football playing for the future Texas coaching legend, Gordon Wood.
Most importantly in Seminole, he met the love of his life and soulmate, LaQuita June Braden. They married on July 17, 1951, being the 2nd couple to do so in the new sanctuary at First Baptist Church.
1952 saw Alton drafted into the US Army as part of the buildup for Korean War. He completed boot camp and basic infantry training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. After peace was negotiated, Alton became a member of the Military Police, rose to the rank of Corporal, and was honorably discharged in 1954.
Upon returning to Seminole, he worked for Phillips Petroleum and attended the University of Texas at Austin, but ultimately felt the pull to public service in law enforcement. Alton served as a motorcycle police officer, before taking a job as a deputy sheriff serving under Slim Gabriel in Ector County. He returned home to Seminole to be elected Sheriff of Gaines County from 1964 – 1968. At that time, he was the youngest elected sheriff in the state of Texas.
Alton ventured into the private sector, as did many others, in the oil boom of the late seventies, forming Montgomery Trucking in Andrews Texas. The bust of 1986 saw Alton return to his passion and calling in law enforcement where he retired in 1992.
Alton was a member of the First Baptist Church in multiple communities during his life. He served as a Sunday School teacher and was a faithful servant to his Lord.
Alton loved his children and grandchildren. He spent many mornings at the B&J Café in Andrews sharing biscuits and gravy with his two grandsons and found a kindred soul in his granddaughter who hung on his every word of his exploits and investigations in law enforcement.
Alton was preceded in death by his wife LaQuita, his parents and both brothers, Lonnie, and Jerry Montgomery. Alton is survived by his son Terry and wife Jessie of Odessa, daughter Linda Montgomery of Pflugerville TX and daughter Lori Tonkin and husband Bob of Odessa.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Robert Browning, Bryan Browning and wife Tracy, Lindsey Saldana and husband Jesse, LeRoy Rodriguez and wife Veronica, Matthew Rodriguez in addition to 13 great grandchildren.
