PORT GIBSON — A native of Port Gibson and resident of Baton Rouge, Malcolm Montgomery, Jr. joined his beloved wife of 56 years, Jane, in the presence of their Heavenly Father on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. He was 90 years old.

Malcolm, a longtime, faithful member of Port Gibson Baptist Church, was a pillar of the church, serving the church body over 50 years in the roles of deacon, church treasurer, and Sunday School teacher. He was a 32nd-degree Freemason.

A staunch patriot and a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and World War II, he was the personification of what has come to be known as the “Greatest Generation”. He served in the Pacific Theater in the 5th Amphibious Corps, which was poised to invade Japan when the U.S. forced a Japanese surrender with bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  He earned various medals and commendations in recognition for his bravery and dedication to the Marine Corps. Malcolm was active in Owen-Montgomery American Legion Post #54 in Port Gibson and served as its commander.

Following the war, Malcolm graduated from Louisiana State University, where he was elected president of the College of Commerce and took great pride in knowing every student in the college on a first-name basis.  While at LSU, he studied accounting and remained an avid Tiger fan his entire life.

Malcolm spent the bulk of his professional career at the American Paper Tube Company in Port Gibson, where he served as comptroller and then as general manager. Additionally, he embodied an entrepreneurial spirit where, over the course of his lifetime, he raised cattle, tended vast vegetable gardens and owned and operated Ashland RV Park, which serves and befriends the traveling tradesmen who maintain the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant.

Malcolm was a trusted member of the Port Gibson community where he was a founding board member of Claiborne Educational Foundation and served on the board of directors of the Mississippi Southern Bank and numerous other civic organizations.

He is survived by his five loving children and their families: Martha Easley Harpole and Wilbur, of Port Gibson; Oby W. Easley III and Shirley, of Oxford; David D. Easley and Marilyn, of Cedar Bluff; Marianne Montgomery Granier and James, of St. Francisville, La.; Marilyn Montgomery Lambert and Eddie, of Prairieville, La.; 19 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald Montgomery, of Baton Rouge.

Malcolm was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Dowdell Montgomery, and parents, Malcolm and Myrtie Roan Montgomery.

Visitation will be at Port Gibson Baptist Church in Port Gibson on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, from noon until funeral services at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson.

Pallbearers will be David Coon, Brian Coon, Jeffrey Coon, Jeff Harpole, Derrick Harpole, Jake Easley, Richard Cross, David Easley, Jr., Adam Easley, Jody Criss, Ryan Wallace, John Lambert, and Ben Petit.

The family gratefully acknowledges the care and compassion extended Malcolm, Jane, and the family by the administration and staff of Sunrise Senior Living on Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA, as well as the Medpass nurses for providing exceptional personal care. The family also expresses deep appreciation to the staff and medical professionals of St. Joseph Hospice and Medical House Calls for their swift and compassionate responses to the care of our father.

Memorials may be made to Port Gibson Baptist Church, 804 Church Street, Port Gibson, MS 39150.  To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.oursofh.com