Marilyn Montgomery Dies; Former Sitka Nurse was 84
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- Created on Thursday, 06 October 2022 13:07
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Marilyn (Molly) Montgomery
Marilyn (Molly) Montgomery, of Juneau, passed quietly at her home on September 30, 2022. She was 84.
She was born August 6, 1938, the only child of Jacqueline and Laurence (Swede) Cole.
A graduate of Clarion (Iowa) High School, she attended Drake University for one year and after marriage in 1957 to Melvin Seifert, and the birth of three children, she obtained her Practical Nurse Certificate and LPN in 1964 in Ames, Iowa.
A move to Ithaca, New York, opened an opportunity to work at the Cornell University Research Unit, including testing for the Mercury 7 astronauts while studying osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. When the unit closed, she became plant nurse at the Ithaca Gun Company. During these years, a fourth child was born.
The family moved to Pennsylvania, where Molly earned her EMT-ambulance and was administrator/dispatch and first responder for East Centre Ambulance Association out of Millheim, Pennsylvania.
After five years, the family moved to Sitka, in 1975, where while employed at Sitka Community Hospital, she earned her Alaska EMT and EMT Instructors Certificate, and enjoyed teaching at the Public Safety Academy as well as out-lying villages and communities in Southeast. She also served five years as Rescue Lt. and Civil Defense Coordinator for the Fire Department, and was active in the 1980 rescue of passengers from the cruise ship Prinsendam, which had caught fire 120 miles south of Yakutat.
She resided in Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas before returning to the Palmer area in 2008.
She was preceded in death by her parents Jacqueline and Laurence (Swede) Cole, daughter-in-law Michelle, and great-grandchild Acelyn.
Survivors include children Cynthia Gebhart of Palmer, Annette Reaves, (Earl) of Sitka, Jeff Seifert, (Diane) of Barrow, and Katherine Russell of Palmer.
Also surviving are her grandchildren Ben, Dylan (Nicole), Darrin, Deidre (Kenny), Sean, James, Jimmy (Melissa), Joanie, Jennifer (Brad), Josh (Lacie) and all their children; and great-granddaughter Tesla, and another on the way. She also loved and considered family Ian Rousculp, Carl Camp.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity of choice.
A reception will be held later to share memories; it will be posted online as well.
Those wishing more information may contact Cindy Gebhart (907) 982-3876, or Deidre Larson (907) 707-3352.
Thanks to the generosity and expertise of the the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska broadband department, Tidal Network ; Christopher Cropley, director of Tidal Network; and Luke Johnson, Tidal Network technician, SitkaSentinel.com is again being updated. Tidal Network has been working tirelessly to install Starlink satellite equipment for city and other critical institutions, including the Sentinel, following the sudden breakage of GCI's fiberoptic cable on August 29, which left most of Sitka without internet or phone connections. CCTHITA's public-spirited response to the emergency is inspiring.
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20 YEARS AGO
September 2004
Photo caption: Jan Nelson, a White Elephant shop volunteer, stands with George Rohrer as he tries out a new public address system installed in the shop. The equipment was bought using money donated to the White Elephant in memory of George’s wife, Violet, a longtime White E volunteer.
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