Shirley Anne Montgomery, 84, of Anderson, passed away on May 4, 2019. She was born on July 1, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Al and Mary Meyer. She grew up in Indianapolis, and graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1952.
She met and married Ken Montgomery in 1954 and moved to Auburn University to attend college where Ken was student. After Ken’s graduation they lived in Montgomery, Alabama until moving to Anderson in 1959. After having nine children, she finished her college at Anderson University with a bachelor degree in 1975.
She then completed two Masters degree programs from Ball State University, one in Interior Design and the second in Architecture. In 1978, she and her husband Ken opened their architecture and interior design firm, which operates to date as krM Architecture+ with offices in Anderson, Indianapolis, and Detroit. While semi-retired, she was still working in her discipline designing library interiors throughout the Midwest.
Shirley liked to paint. Her oil paintings, which won 1st prize in Anderson Art, are displayed throughout her home. She also wrote and published two books on Architecture.
She taught Art History at Anderson University. In 2015, she and Ken received the Entrepreneurs of Madison County Award. In 2016 their architecture firm was awarded the Indiana State Achievement Award (which is not awarded every year).
Shirley loved to read, travel, play golf, and snow ski, using her ability to teach her grandchildren how to ski. Shirley loved the slopes in Aspen and Snowmass, CO, which was their annual family winter vacation. She continued skiing until she was 77.
In the 84 years that Shirley spent on earth, it was her faith in God that gave her the strength to accomplish all of her successes. Her true success in life was her nine children. Mike (Karla) Montgomery, Kathy Jell, Judy Ryan, David (Nancy) Montgomery, Andy (Debbie) Montgomery, John (Kathryn) Montgomery, Mary (John) Smith, Tom (Andrea) Montgomery, and Bill (Kim) Montgomery; 25 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her sister, Judy (Dave) Grissmer, and sister-in-law, Sheila (Lyle) Hiebert. , along with 3 nieces and one nephew. Shirley was thankful for Facebook, the Internet, etc.
which provided her the ability to keep up with her extended family and their activities. She was preceded in death by her parents, Al and Mary Meyer; sister and brother-in-law, Ann (Doyle) Rein; and son-in-law, Tom Ryan. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 11:00 am – 1:45 pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1115 Pearl St., Anderson, IN 46016.
A Mass of Christian Burial will follow visitation at the church, at 2:00 pm with Rev. Daniel Shine officiating. Burial will take place in the East Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson.
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