Stephen Alec Montgomery, 51, hailing from Rosemark, TN and later Austin, TX passed away on May 16, 2024. He was fatally mauled by an escaped zoo lion. Not really, but he would appreciate your help perpetuating the rumor.

Steve was born on August 4, 1972, to William and Patsy Montgomery from whom he acquired his impeccable sense of humor and his love for family and friends. He graduated salutatorian of Bolton High School (1990) and earned a physics degree at Rhodes College (1994) in Memphis, TN. You might have recognized him from his stint at Chuck E Cheese in the early 1990's where he was often tapped to play the coveted role of the head mouse himself. He eventually outgrew that costume and entered a career in Information Technology with several companies, including Stephenson & Associates in Memphis, TN and UTIMCO in Austin, TX. That career later took him to the Admundsen-Scott South Pole Station for a season as support personnel.

Steve felt the draw (or heard the drawl?) of Texas and moved to Austin for a change of scenery in 2000 where he stayed for over a decade. He plied his charm and exceedingly good humor against a horde of Texans who became some of his dearest companions. Steve would later return from Texas to be a primary caretaker for his mother prior to her passing in 2022.

Steve was first and foremost an exceptional son, brother, and friend. He was a constant voice of reason and a trusted confidant. Steve rarely if ever declined an invitation to an adventure (refer to South Pole above), a new activity (sky diving or biking across New Zealand on his way home from the South Pole) or to share the drudgery of manual labor. He shared his time and gave assistance freely to anyone who asked. He listened with interest and concern to anyone needing an ear. Steve was charming and polite, but never condescending. Steve was a fount of positivity and entirely unselfish. He was thankful, honest, intelligent, hilarious, compassionate, caring, empathetic, generous, and above all else he was eternally kind. Steve was equally comfortable in a large group as a small gathering. He was a coveted addition to any congregation of friends, and he had an uncanny ability to make every friend feel like his best friend. He was rarely seen without a smile, a ball, or a trinket. If you knew Steve, you very likely had several inside jokes shared only between him and yourself. He was one of a kind. He is altogether unforgettable.

Steve was a steadfast fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets. He grew up playing golf and basketball – believing he could have played in the NBA if he had better knees and a mere 10 more inches of height. He spent many hours riding his bicycle – his preferred mode of transportation. Steve was an avid reader and a connoisseur of good music, good (if not niche) movies, and fine spirits and ale. He enjoyed a good game of chess. He had a weakness for fried pies and peach cobbler. He shunned confrontation but reveled in good conversation and debate. Both his greatest passion and greatest gift were making people laugh. Steve's dry wit was lightning fast and second to none. To the benefit of us all, Steve preferred to make his life richer with relationships and experiences rather than material things, and by that measure he was truly wealthy.

Steve faced a relentless illness with dignity and an unshakable faith. Despite his distress through chemotherapy, disappointing prognoses, and confronting his impending mortality, he found solace in scripture and the promise of a resurrected life free of illness.  The devastating disease which took him from us was unable to steal his sense of humor and the humanity that defined him throughout life. Though he was suffering, he grieved instead for those who would be left without him. He continued to express his selflessness and appreciation to those who cared for him and visited him – apologizing for his inability to share more time and energy. Steve showed us the power of trust in the Promise of our Lord despite the cruel fate that visited him the final year of his life.

Steve was predeceased by his father, William and mother, Patsy. He is survived by his brother Patrick and sister-in-love, Lucie Brackin, and his boon companions King a/k/a "Crunchy" and Bane a/k/a "Big Swerve" who were intermittently interested in his presence and tolerated his company only when to their benefit. Devastated by his loss are his family and the countless friends whose lives will be slightly less bright with the absence of a soul as endearing as Steve.

Service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at Forest Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park East at 2440 Whitten Rd, Memphis, TN 38133. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to www.pancan.org (http://www.pancan.org/)
or
www.alz.org (http://www.alz.org/).