Montgomery Starks

Reflections of Monty’s life

His elementary education was at St. Mary Catholic School.  He spent his High School years at Douglas High School and was interested in music.  He and several other young men formed a singing group and sang at school functions and local talent shows.  Monty’s nickname was “Hot Chocolate”!  He taught himself how to play bongo drums and that was incorporated into the group’s act.  Monty, as he was called by his family and friends, was involved in his father’s business (Miller’s Pool Hall) during his teen years.  Monty was a “sharp dresser” and that “head of curly hair” was quite an eye catcher.  He was the apple of his mom’s eye, and his big sister Betty adored her little brother!  He enjoyed spending the summers with her and her family in Wichita, KS. 

Monty worked in the Hospitality Industry as a bartender and waiter after graduating from Douglas in 1961. 

Monty met and married Saundra Turner in 1962 and 2 children were born to this union.  Montgomery D. Starks, Jr. and Stacy Monette Starks. 

Monty joined the United States Army where he achieved the rank of sergeant and served honorably. He spent one tour in Viet Nam where he was wounded and disabled during combat.  He was presented with The Purple heart medal for his heroics. 

He moved back to OKC after his military career. Where he met and married Erma Jean Starks and raised and fathered her son Michael Brown as his own.  To this family union was born Montika Adhana Starks.  He then began his civilian career as an Electrical Engineer with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, CA.  He retired from the lab after working for them for 20 years. 

His journey back to OKC had a small but significant detour to Palmdale, CA.  While in CA and until his death, at the request of his Uncle Lewis Scott he stewarded and oversaw Uncle Lewis’s property.  Once back in OKC and until his death, he stewarded and upkept the 2nd street properties.  One of which has been in our family for centuries, his Aunt Gold’s (Uncle Lewis’s sister) home.  During his final years in OKC he raised and grandfathered Tracy Macon, Felicia Macon, Champaign Macon and Little Frankie Macon, the grandchildren of his lifelong friend and soulmate Frankie Marie Carter, as his own. 

 Preceding him in death was his father and mother, Charlie Miller Sr. and Ruth Starkes, his sister Betty Jean Reed and his brother Marlon Starks.

Montgomery leaves to cherish his memory, his son; Montgomery D. Starks Jr. (Evette); his step-son Michael Brown; his two daughters, Stacy Monette Starks & Montika Collins (Paul); his brother Charlie Miller Starks, Jr. (Mary); grandchildren, Montia, Ashanti, Agapé, Xavier, Cadence; great-granddaughter, Maxine and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

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