Montgomery L. Wilson

Judge Montgomery L. (Monty) Wilson 86, of Maryville, MO passed away Sunday, June 12, 2011 at Heartland Hospital in St. Joseph, MO, from complications from cancer surgery.

Monty was born on August 3, 1924 in Guilford, MO to Roxie C. and Beulah M. Richards Wilson, they preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Richard C. Wilson, and his son, Richard James Wilson, in 2008.

Monty graduated from the Skidmore Missouri High School in 1942, and attended Baker University in Baldwin Kansas. He then entered the U.S. Army Air Corp, and was a WW II veteran, being discharged in 1946.

After his discharge, he attended Northwest Missouri State College, Maryville, before transferring to the University of Missouri/Columbia. He earned his BS in Agriculture Economics, and continued at the University of Missouri, School of Law, and earned his JD degree in 1952. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

On August 20, 1949 in Elmo, MO, Monty was united in marriage to Irma Lee Hull, she survives of the home.

Monty practiced law for several years in Maryville, and was the Maryville, MO city attorney. He also continued to farm in the Skidmore area for most of his working life.

In 1958, Monty was elected to the bench as the Probate Magistrate Judge, now the Associate Circuit Judge. He held that position for 18 years. He then spent 12 years as the 4th Judicial Circuit Judge, and retired from that position in 1988.

Monty was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Maryville, MO. He was a member of the Maryville Host Lions Club, and for several years had coordinated the clubs Meals-on-wheels program at the Senior Center. In 2009, Monty received the Lions Club Melvin Jones Award. He was a member of the Skidmore Missouri Masonic Lodge. He was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, Valley of St. Joseph, and spent several years on the Scottish Rite degree team. He was a member of the Moila Shrine Temple, St. Joseph, MO.

Monty was the former Scout Master and spent 20 years with Troop 74, BSA of Maryville, MO, and was a member of the tribe of Mic-O-Say, St. Joseph, MO. He was also a member of the Skidmore and Maryville American Legion Posts. He was a member of the Nodaway County Democratic Club. Monty spent 19 years as the secretary/treasurer of the Skidmore, Missouri Alumni Association. In 1988, he received the Optimist Club’s, Law Enforcement Award.

Monty loved to travel abroad and in the United States, and had spent the last 22 winters in Mesa, AZ.

Left to mourn his passing is his wife, Irma Lee Wilson, of the home, Maryville, MO, and his daughter, Lee Ann and husband Anthony Cocchiara, Buffalo, MO. His two grandchildren, Kimberly A. Redd, and husband Shannon Mosby, Buckeye, AZ, and Phillip A. Wilson, Kansas City, MO, and his great grandchildren, Olivia Mosby, and Jackson Mosby, both of Buckeye, AZ. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, June 16, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church, Maryville, MO. The Pastor Scott Moon will be the officiant. The body will arrive at the church one hour prior to services. Burial will be in the Miriam Cemetery, Maryville, with full military honors by the James Edward Gray American Legion Post 100, and members of the Missouri Military Honors Detail.

The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, Maryville, MO, or to the Missouri Lions Eye Tissue Bank.