Corsicana —

Deanie Montgomery, Husband, Father, Grump, Pilot, A&P-IA Mechanic, boat racer, drag car driver, motorcycle racer and friend, passed away on Friday, June 29, 2012 at Twilight home in Corsicana.

Weldon Dean “Deanie” Montgomery was born to Hazel Clements Montgomery and Oliver Dean Montgomery on April 30, 1932. He attended Corsicana ISD and graduated in 1949. After graduation he attended Navarro Junior College as one of the Barracks Bunch. He graduated from North Texas State College with a BS.

While at Navarro he got his private pilots license. Later he completed all requirements to add commercial, multi, instruments ratings to his license. He was able to realize his dream of flying for an airline when he went to work for Central Airlines based in Fort Worth. He was later based in Kansas City. Short time later he resigned from the airline to move back to Corsicana to run the family business, Rob's Battery & Electric Co.

While flying for Central Airlines he met and married his wife of 46 years, Lee Hackney. They did everything as family. They all traveled and backed Deanie up in his racing pursuits. He was a World Champion Hydroplane and Runabout racer. Over the years he raced go carts, Enduro Motorcycle, cross country motorcycles. He rode motorcycles with all three sons and grandson, Mike Montgomery. When he began cross country motorcycle racing he was also affiliated with Texas Cross Country Racing Association.

At one time during his racing career he obtained a fuel funny car named Long Gone. He was well known at the drag strip with this car.

With his avid interest in aviation he was able to obtain his A&P-IA Mechanics License.

Over the years he restored several antique airplanes to fly and to sell. Again his entire family was involved.

Deanie and family loved to travel and flew on most trips. When attending air shows all over the country, Deanie and one of the boys flew, while Lee and the rest of the family drove in the motor home. Flying and airplanes remained a passion all his life. Deanie was a lifetime member of Antique Airplane Association and EAA. He maintained his membership in Stearman Restorers Association for years.

He is preceded in death by his parents, son, Billy Dean Montgomery, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Edith Hackney, and dear friends: Joe McAdams, Ollie D. Fountain, Roosevelt Hamilton, Dr. Louis Gibson, Jack Winthrop, Lynn Sanders, Liston Herod, Paul Currington, Ray Scoggins, Travis Coe, Col. Sid Hess, and Leon Williams.

He is survived by his wife Lee. He is also survived by his sons Chad and wife Shannon of Fort Worth, and Joe of Corsicana; grandsons: Michael Chad Montgomery, Allen Gonzales, and Luke Gonzales; granddaughter: Lauren Gonzales; aunts: Katie Denbow of Ennis, Billie Grammar of Dallas; cousins: Rex Stell and wife Mildred, W.M. Montgomery and wife Loudene, Marianna Jackson; dear friends: Bobby and Diane Wilson, Joe and Vada Borsellino, Jim and Sharon Howard, Hank Hervey, Glenn McAdams, Kenneth and Linda Napps, Dale and Gerry MacNeill, Randy Porter, Milton and Connie Webb, Gene and Ellen Bland, Joe and Betty Stroube, Tommy and Carol Jenkins, Oscar and Rosie Bonilla, Raymond Rodgers, John and Belinda Taylor, Sammy Lattner, Dan and Windy Morris, Heath and Christie Bell, Wayne Darnaby, Jeannie Coe and Andrea Davis; beloved pets, Deanie’s precious pug Louis, and favorite lap sitter and office guard, Rosa.

Visitation with the family will be 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2012 at Corley Funeral Home.  

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Corley Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon Lewis Palos officiating.

An online guestbook is available at www.corleyfuneralhome.com by selecting the Deanie Montgomery obituary.