My father, Larry Montgomery, has led an amazing life and has known from an early age that God had a plan for his life.  Summarizing in print the impact of his life and the legacy he has left behind is an impossible task.  In my attempt to honor his memory, I hope each of you recognize the man that you knew and admired. 

He was born to a loving family in Modesto, California.  He was one of the youngest of eight children being raised by a single mother.  The love, respect, and special relationship he had with his mother was heartwarming.  It is obvious my father's character had been shaped by his humble beginnings, the love and care given to him by his mother and siblings, and the belief that he could accomplish anything.

My father was drafted into the Army at eighteen and spent two years in Vietnam.  During his time there, he developed friendships that produced memories to last him a lifetime.  Through his service in the Vietnam war he was awarded three purple hearts for injuries sustained in the line of duty.  He later shared that during this time in his life he read a bible he received at Christmas in 1964 from his mother several times from cover to cover.  I believe this was also when he became aware that God had spared him for a greater purpose.

It was during this time that he married and began a family that included my sister and I.  He was a dedicated father who worked very hard to continually improve the quality of life he could offer his family.  We all share fond memories of family vacations every summer, large holiday parties, and a father who promised we would never be too big for him to carry us to bed and tuck us in.

Following his military career, he began working at a printing factory which is where he would meet his second wife.  When he married for the second time he blended two families together and gained two stepsons who also regarded him as a father figure.  He and Sandie were committed to each other and making our new blended family a happy one.  I can speak for us all when I say we quickly removed the "step" from our relationships and continue to consider each other family.  This also included a chapter in which Larry owned his own business for several years.

One of my father's dreams has always been to leave the valley and move up to the foothills.  Following all of his children leaving home and beginning their lives he and Sandie moved to Angels Camp.  This location holds so many happy memories for us all.  My father became a volunteer at the Angels Camp Fire Dept. and they both created friendships that they still enjoy today.  I believe this was the first opportunity they had to enjoy life without children in the home, although they had their grandchildren there every chance they had. 

In 2001 they adopted their four grandchildren to assist in providing a stable home for them.  My father was never more certain about any decision in his life.  He and Sandie welcomed the children and the opportunity to spend their lives raising them and ensuring every possible procedure to improve the twins' cerebral palsy symptoms was exhausted.  The family spent time in Texas and is currently settled in North Las Vegas.  All four grandchildren are doing well, with Carly recently graduating at the top of her class and entering UNLV this year.

My father is the type of person who leaves an impression on everyone.  He knew that God spared him because he had a purpose and a responsibility to be a father to many (eight in total... although many more thought of him as a father figure), be a life partner to one (Sandie was everything to him), and a friend to all.