May 3, 1933 – December 3, 2023

Elizabeth “Betty” Brown Bell Montgomery passed away on December 3, 2023, in League City, Texas. She was born on May 3, 1933, in Lewisburg, West Virginia to Mason and Amoret (Moore) Bell. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. George Robert Martin “Bob” Montgomery, Jr., son Robert “Scott” Montgomery, grandson Stephen Mason Montgomery Jr., her parents, her very dear aunts, Frances “Brownie” Aunschutz and Myrtle Bell of Lewisburg, her brothers Mason Bell and sister-in-law Ann Bell, Frank Bell, Dr. Robert Bell and sister Mary Ellen Haefner and her husband Don.

Betty was an active member of the Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg. She attended Greenbrier College in Lewisburg and Montreat College in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She sang in the Select, Combined Choir of Greenbrier College and Greenbrier Military School, the touring choir of Montreat College and in several church choirs. For two summers she served as Director of Vacation Bible Schools for children in remote mountain communities, setting up, directing, and teaching in them for Greenbrier Presbytery of West Virginia. After working in Washington D.C., she enrolled in the Presbyterian School for Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia to become a professional Christian Educator. She was working in that capacity at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Stockton, Texas when she met and married G.R.M. “Bob” Montgomery, Jr.

Betty was a supportive and loving wife as her husband earned his Seminary degree and then served churches in Louisiana, San Antonio TX, Grapevine TX, and Alvin TX. She raised their three children and had many activities as a minister’s wife.  Betty was a dedicated and much sought after substitute public school teacher. In San Antonio, she directed and taught a Head Start Kindergarten for under-privileged children, most of whom did not speak English. Alongside the bus driver she would ride through the housing developments to pick up and return the children to their homes.

Her many activities at the First Presbyterian Church of Alvin included chairing the Christian Education Committee and serving as an Elder. In addition to attending church services and functions, Betty encouraged visitors in the manse, hosted functions in the minister’s home and furnished tasty deserts for covered dish suppers and receptions. Very often she accompanied Bob on visits to the hospital and to the homes of members. With him, she served as director of summer camps for junior high schools at the Cho-Yeh Camp and Conference Center in Livingston, Texas. She also served on the Resource Center and Children’s Committees of the Presbytery of New Covenant in Houston, Texas and as co-chair of a Disaster Relief Committee after the widespread flooding in 1979.  Betty represented the Presbyterian Church in the United States as a Children’s Disaster Response Consultant to the Church of the Brethren. Betty genuinely loved all people of every age and very appreciative when people helped her.   

After retirement, Betty and Bob attended the First Presbyterian Church of Pearland and then the Webster Presbyterian Church. At the latter, she served as an Elder and on the new sanctuary and stained-glass windows Building Committee. She chaired the Visitation Committee and the Time Capsule Committee. She has always enjoyed plays, concerts, travel, family reunions and playing bridge with friends and in bridge clubs. She survived two serious onsets of cancer in 1995 and 2000.

She loved and adored her grandchildren and had a very special bond with both Ashleigh and Stephen.  She loved her family and treasured time spent with them, talking on the phone or receiving special occasion treats.

Survivors include her son, Stephen “Steve” Mason Montgomery, daughter-in-law, Millen, great-granddaughter Delilah Pinzon; daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Frances Montgomery Taylor, granddaughter, Ashleigh Nicole Taylor; sister, Amoret Bunn, sister-in-law, Carolyn Bell; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Alvin, Webster Presbyterian Church, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) or to a charity of your choice.