Michael Andrew Montgomery

Published 4:23 pm Friday, January 18, 2019

Michael Andrew Montgomery, 60, went home to be with the Lord surrounded by family on January 8, 2019, after a brief illness at Methodist West Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley and George Montgomery, and by his son, Thomas Nave Montgomery.
Michael leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Karla; his six remaining children, Andrea Bratton (C.J.), Jewel Montgomery, Karly Mourles (Medhi), Johnathan Montgomery (Luci), Micah Montgomery and Kathleen Montgomery; six grandchildren, Hamish, Joshua, Julian, Dagan, Eris and Brynn Ann; and his beloved sister and brother, Kathy and Steven Montgomery, as well as an aunt and cousins, including a special cousin, Daniel Nave.
Michael attended Elizabethton High School, graduating in 1976 as a valedictorian. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and from Stanford University in 1981 with a Masters in Computer Engineering.
Upon graduation, he worked for HQ Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, N.J. In 1983, he accepted a position at Schlumberger (a fortune 500 company) in Austin, Texas, where he became Chief Scientist and was appointed Intellectual Properties Champion. In 2011, he accepted a position with Baker Hughes in Houston, Texas, leading the technology division.
Michael was brilliant, with over 30 patents in areas ranging from data transmission to smart card technology. He was a recognized world expert in smart cards and invented the modern card reader found at most service stations. He was also one of the inventors for the modern chips found in the back of mobile phones worldwide. His work greatly benefited the world, and included avoiding environmental contamination through advanced sensing and increasing data speed for computers and cell phones.
He was a Christian and served in many church positions, including teaching, music leader, and youth leader. He was heavily involved in the AWANA program and went on many mission trips as well. Michael loved music, singing as well as playing the piano and saxophone.
Michael was a great man and friend whose loss will be felt by all whose lives he touched.
Memorial services will be held at Tallowwood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowwood Road, Houston, TX 77024 on January 19. Donations may be sent in Michael Montgomery’s memory to Donate Life Texas, 2510 Westridge Street, Houston, TX 77054 (www.donatelife.net). Condolences may be sent to Karla Montgomery at 11900 Barryknoll Lane, Apt. 7124, Houston TX 77024 and to Kathy and Steve Montgomery at P.O. Box 1312, Elizabethton, TN 37644.