Angie Darlene Montgomery

Angie Darlene Montgomery, Age 91, died surrounded by people who loved her on April 19, 2026. She was born at home in Nickerson, Kansas in the middle of a dust storm on April 25, 1934 . She was a “blue baby,” and the doctor advised not to name her as she would likely not live. But her mother Lillian Jackson Ball refused the doctor’s advice and named her Angie Darlene, which means “precious angel.” She tucked the infant in her blouse and fed her from a medicine dropper until she strengthened. Her father, Samuel Ball declared it was too much name for such a little peg, and the nickname “peg” or “Peggy” stuck into adult life. Angie Darlene “Peggy” Ball grew and thrived. She met and married Drew Duncan Montgomery in 1950 and joined him as he ranched and broke wild horses in the flint hills before moving to a small farmhouse south of Emporia where they raised three children. Angie held many jobs including working at Dolly Madison Hostess bakery, the post office, and teaching headstart, but mostly she mothered and co-farmed. She was tough as old boot leather and survived many hardships and always defied the doctors’ poor prognoses. Others looking at her life might have called it poor or difficult, but she never did. She found joy and delight every day. She loved all animals, especially horses. She loved to paint and draw, crochet, embroider, and craft. She lived up to her name and never said an unkind word or lost her patience. She delighted in flowers, birds, butterflies, and science. She was always loving. Her last words were “wonderful!” and “I love you.” Angie Darlene is preceded in death by her husband Drew Duncan Montgomery, her father Sam, her mother Lillis, her older brother Joe, her older sister Ruth, her father-in-law Drew Robert Montgomery and her mother-in-law Ina Brown Montgomery, her sister-in-law Evelyn, her daughter-in-law Janice Faye, her son-in-law Charles Busch, and nieces and nephews. She is survived by a younger sister Nina Marrow of Emporia, Kansas, three children: Drew Douglass Montgomery (Kathy) of Council Grove, Duncan Joseph Montgomery (Connie) of Russellville Arkansas, and Sue Ann Busch of Cuba Missouri. Also, seven grandchildren: Melissa Dawn Rodecamp of Meriden Kansas, Drew Robert Montgomery of Council Grove Kansas, Allyson Sharelle Chambers of Emporia Kansas, Michael Weldon Montgomery of Russellville, Arkansas, Sarah Clarissa Busch of Springdale Arkansas, Lucille Darlene Behrendt of Rolla Missouri, and Katherine Ann Busch of Springfield Missouri. She is also survived by fourteen great-grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren and friends as close as family. The family plans to gather some fine June day and celebrate her life with a horseback ride and tour of the flint hills after which she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband at memorial lawn cemetery in Emporia, Ks. In lieu of a memorial the family suggests you take time to smell a rose or pet an animal or rock a baby or gaze at The stars and know that it all is wonderful.