Dr. John L. Montgomery Sr., a longtime Knoxville ophthalmologist, died Friday. He was 99.

Dr. Montgomery was born in West Knox County’s Virtue community and graduated as valedictorian from Farragut High School in 1924. He studied at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and earned a doctorate of medicine from the University of Tennessee at Memphis.

Dr. Montgomery interned at Knoxville General Hospital and practiced in Erwin, Tenn., where he married Agnes Tucker. They moved to New Orleans, where he began practicing ophthalmology. They returned to Knoxville, where he became the first board-certified ophthalmologist in East Tennessee. He practiced medicine until age 75, when he retired.

Dr. Montgomery volunteered for the Army during World War II and served four years, leaving as a lieutenant colonel. He helped develop West Town Mall and was known for his work as a farmer and cattleman, earning a place in the Polled Hereford Hall of Fame.

Services are set for 5 p.m. today at Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends afterward.

Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in Virtue Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorial donations may be made to a fund at Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 725 Virtue Road, Knoxville, TN 37934.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

MONTGOMERY , JOHN L., SR., M.D. F.A.C.S. – born in the Virtue Community of West Knox County on November 12, 1906 and died November 3, 2006 at his home in Buckingham.He was an elder and member of V i r t u e C u m b e r l a n d Presbyter ian Church. Dr. M o n t g o m e r y was the first of four children of W. A. Montgomery and Annas Watt Montgomery . He was the Valedictorian of the Farragut High School Class of 1924. He studied pre-med at the University of Tennessee, graduated from U. T. Memphis Medical School with a Doctorate of Medicine. After interning at the old Knoxville General Hospital, Dr. Montgomery practiced in Erwin, TN, where he met and married Agnes Tucker. They moved to New Orleans, LA, where he did his specialization in Ophthalmology and was the first board certified Ophthalmologist in East Tennessee.He was the founding member of the University Eye Surgeons in 1936. At age 35, he volunteered for military service and served four years in the United States Army, and was h o n o ra bl y discharged as a Lt. Col. He practiced in Knoxville and was associated with Dr. Leon Hoskins and later with his son, John Jr. Dr. Montgomery was an avid farmer and cattleman, being honored as Polled Hereford Hall of Fame inductee.He was a co-developer and co-owner of West Town Mall.Dr. Montgomery and his wife semi retired to his farm in McMinn County in 1964, continued to practice medicine until age 75 and returned to Knoxville in 1988. He was preceded in death by: his wife, Agnes Tucker Montgomery ; brother, James Austin Montgomery ;sisters, Beth Montgomery Patterson and Ruth Montgomery Brimm. Survivors: wife, Mary Kirk Bassett Montgomery and her family. Dr. Montgomery ’s children, John Lee Montgomery Jr. and his wife Gale of Lenoir City, Julia Montgomery Scott and her husband Robert R.Scott III, Joseph Tucker Montgomery and his wife Joyce, all of Knoxville;grandchildren, John Lee Montgomery III, Jill Montgomery Dempsey and husband James Edward Jr., James Wilson Montgomery , Robert Ferris Scott and wife Lisa, Joseph Montgomery Scott and wife Sarah, Josiah Tucker Montgomery , Rachel Montgomery Apking and husband Stephen, Larkin Annis Montgomery , Christopher Nicoll Montgomery and Tracy Lauren Montgomery ; great grandchildren, Hollie Alexandra, James Montgomery and Jacquelyn Elizabeth Dempsey, John Lee Neal IV, Houston Kirkpatrick and Mellodee Montgomery , Marshall Hope Montgomery , Mary Moore, Rachel Shumaker, Calvin Ferris, Nathaniel Austin and Katrina Julianne Scott, Thomas Montgomery Scott; nieces and nephews. Funeral services 5 p.m. Monday, November 6, at Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Rev. Mark Hester and Rev. Steve Diamond officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Family and friends will gather Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Virtue Cemetery for graveside services with full military honors conferred by the Volunteer State Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established at Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 725 Virtue Road, Knoxville, TN 37934 or to The Gideons International. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike, is serving the Montgomery family. www.clickfuneralhome.com.

Dr. John L. Montgomery Sr., a longtime Knoxville ophthalmologist, died Friday. He was 99.

Dr. Montgomery was born in West Knox County’s Virtue community and graduated as valedictorian from Farragut High School in 1924. He studied at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and earned a doctorate of medicine from the University of Tennessee at Memphis.

Dr. Montgomery interned at Knoxville General Hospital and practiced in Erwin, Tenn., where he married Agnes Tucker. They moved to New Orleans, where he began practicing ophthalmology. They returned to Knoxville, where he became the first board-certified ophthalmologist in East Tennessee. He practiced medicine until age 75, when he retired.

Dr. Montgomery volunteered for the Army during World War II and served four years, leaving as a lieutenant colonel. He helped develop West Town Mall and was known for his work as a farmer and cattleman, earning a place in the Polled Hereford Hall of Fame.

Services are set for 5 p.m. today at Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends afterward.

Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in Virtue Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorial donations may be made to a fund at Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 725 Virtue Road, Knoxville, TN 37934.

Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel is in charge of arrangements.