Derryl Elson Montaque's Obituary
Derryl Montague, 77, passed away suddenly on June 16th, 2010 at his home in Sugarloaf, California, near Big Bear Lake. He was born in Exeter, California on January 27, 1933, to Yetta Nadean and Wesley Eugene Montague. Growing up in the San Joaquin Valley, he graduated from Dinuba High School in 1950; then attended Reedley College where he played baseball and football. Following four years of service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Derryl graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Landscape Architecture. He began his professional career in San Diego, and worked for over 35 years in commercial landscaping as a superintendent and project manager. Notable public projects in Southern California included the Rose Garden at Exposition Park, the Ruben H. Fleet Space Theater in Balboa Park, and Revelle Plaza at UC San Diego. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
He is survived by his sons Gary (Dani) and Mark (Monique), and his grandson Strummer. He is also survived by his brother Richard (Laura).
In retirement, Derryl enjoyed travel, hiking, bird watching, and gardening. He was also an avid bridge player, and a member of the Big Bear Bridge Club. His recent travels included Alaska, Italy, China, and Costa Rica. He also participated in a number of volunteer nature projects through Elderhostel. He was a life member of the San Diego Zoological Society, the Audubon Society, and the Sierra Club.
Services will be held on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 4:00 at the Bobbitt Memorial Chapel at 1299 E. Highland Avenue, San Bernardino, CA. Private burial to follow at Fort Rosecrans Memorial Cemetery in San Diego.
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