NORMAN — Mark Alan Montgomery, age 47, of Norman, passed away early Friday morning, Feb. 22, 2013, in Oklahoma City while flying a medic helicopter for Eagle Med. Mark was born Oct. 29, 1965, in Oklahoma City, the son of Dale and Charlotte (Henley) Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial for Mark will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 3939 W. Tecumseh Road in Norman. Burial will conclude in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Norman. A prayer vigil will be 7 p.m. Thursday, also at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Mark attended public schools in Oklahoma City, graduating from Western Heights High School in 1983. He later enrolled at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in aviation.
He was united in marriage to Miss Anke Spitzhorn on Jan. 2, 1987, in Oklahoma City.
Mark retired as a chief warrant officer 4 after a very distinguished 23 years in the Army. He was a Master Army Aviator with more than 4,700 safe flight hours, culminating as the officer in charge of the Oklahoma Counterdrug Aviation Task Force. Mark was a graduate of the Air Assault course and was also a distinguished graduate of the Army Flight School Program. During his time in the Army, he became a trusted maintenance test pilot for the OH-58 Kiowa.
For more than 16 years, Mark excelled as one of the nation’s best Counterdrug pilots. His vast awards include the Good Conduct Medal, numerous Army achievement medals, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Oklahoma Commendation Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.
One of Mark’s most notable achievements, the Clarence R. Clarkson Aviation Safety Medal, was awarded three times for his skill as a pilot. Furthermore, he received top accolades and certificates from local and federal law enforcement such as the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the United States Forest Service, Oklahoma State Police, the U.S. Marshals and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Ultimately, Mark was awarded the Governors Commendation for his many unselfish, outstanding acts to reduce illegal drugs in Oklahoma.
Mark joined Eagle Med as a pilot in 2011 and quickly rose to safety officer and was then promoted lead pilot for Eagle Med 7 located in Oklahoma City.
Mark was preceded in death by his father, Dale Montgomery, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
He is survived by his wife of 26 wonderful years, Anke of the home in Norman; his two caring daughters Brandi Montgomery and Courtney Montgomery, both of the home in Norman; his mother, Charlotte Newton of Oklahoma City; one brother, Richard Montgomery of Seagoville, Texas; two sisters, Lisa Torres and her husband Scott of Oklahoma City and Dana Holliday and her husband Rod of Oklahoma City; his father-in-law, Richard Spitzhorn and his wife Irmi of Mogendorf, Germany; his mother-in-law, Lucia Rech of Nannhausen, Germany; six nieces, Natalie, Ashleigh, Tiffany, Melissa, Emory and Charlotte G.; three nephews, Dustin, Dylan and Baylor; and numerous friends and coworkers.
Mark Montgomery touched so many lives with his caring and humbling ways. He was the epitome of a Christian with his pure, compassionate, thoughtful, empowering spirit. Mark will be missed by many.
Arrangements for Mark and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.
Norman Transcript, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013
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