Marie Montgomery
BY VEERA BONNER
Special To The Tribune
Marie Montgomery of Stoney passed away peacefully on March 24, 2002 in Cariboo Memorial Hospital, having lived only six-and-a- half weeks after her husband Johnny’s death on February 6, 2002.
Marie was born on August 18, 1923 to Hereditary Chief Louie Quilt and his second wife, Cecile Case.
Marie had two sisters, Josephine Isnardy, who lives with husband Marvin at Toosey; and Katy Quilt Setah, now deceased.
Three brothers: Henry, Lashaway, and William Case, are all deceased. Her three half brothers, Charlie, Francis, and Mac Quilt, have all died as well.
Marie (Maddie) lived her life in the Chilcotin. She wasn’t able to get an education but learned the traditional way well and worked hard all her life.
As a girl she helped her parents when they took haying and fencing contracts, and helped look after their own horses and cattle.
Some of their horses were trained race horses and it was exciting when they brought home money at the Williams Lake Stampede.
She took part in fishing, hunting and trapping.
Marie was most comfortable speaking her native tongue but she learned to speak limited English when it was required of her.
In 1968 she met Johnny Montgomery and they were married in 1971.
They, too, got their own little bunch of cows, and Marie was happiest when she and Johnny were off at a meadow haying or feeding cattle.
Washing by hand at these meadows she always kept her cabin, clothing and bedding spotlessly clean. She made buckskin and sewed gloves, moccasins, vests, and coats trimmed with bead work and embroidery.
Her buckskin gloves were treasured by many people including this writer. Johnny always wore Marie’s hand made buckskin gloves and moccasins.
She and Johnny had one daughter, Rosalie Stump, adopted when she was little. She had one grand daughter, Amy Stump. Rosalie is with Lennie Solomon, giving Maddie four step-grandchildren: Derek, Becky, Shaina, and Jayden Solomon.
One or all of these children stayed at night with Marie after she was left alone.
When a modern farm house was built for Rosalie near Montgomery’s home at Stoney, Rosalie invited her parents to move in and live with her. But they refused, choosing instead to stay in their small log house, kept warm and cozy with a big wood heater.
Rosalie was a devoted daughter, lovingly caring for her dad and mom.
“I will be with you to the end,” she told Marie. And she was.
Marie Montgomery was a quiet, kind, but determined person, loved and appreciated by all: It feels sad that Johnny and Marie are no longer there to greet you at their little log house, warm and cozy.