Ann Jeffry Montague Ours departed this life to be with God and loved ones on Monday evening, Nov. 7, 2016, with her daughters by her bedside.
She was 79 years old, having been born on Dec.13, 1936 in Lexington, Virginia, to Ludwell Lee Montague and Fanny Burwell Catlett Montague of Gloucester, Virginia.
Ann grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and earned a B.A. in English from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College) in Lynchburg. She taught at the Pan Am Secretarial School in Richmond before marrying Robert (Bob) Maurice Ours in 1960. The couple had two daughters and resided in Virginia before settling in Morgantown, West Virginia, in 1972.
Ann was a gentle, compassionate, and generous soul. She loved music, dancing, and singing, with also special interest in literature, language, history, and religion. With a great talent for memorizing tunes and verse, she had an abundant repertoire of songs, poems, and stories, and enjoyed writing poetry and jingles. Though primarily a homemaker after marriage, Ann held occasional part-time jobs and eventually ran a home typing and proofreading business. In later years, she loved giving home care for the elderly, with particular affection for the late James Shepherd of Morgantown and his family. Appearing as a storyteller at special events and in local schools also gave her joy.
With a sincere love of God and neighbor, Ann supported various charities, made efforts to assist the underprivileged, and advocated against hunger. Raised in the Episcopal Church, she also attended Methodist and Presbyterian churches during different periods of her life, often serving in the choir. She was most recently a member of First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown, where she served a term as deacon and assisted with the children’s Sunday school program. Her family church was Ware Episcopal Church in Gloucester, which she attended on visits to that area.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Ann was preceded in death by one younger sister, Harriotte (Hally) Lee Montague Baker; one sister-in-law, Norma Jean Ours, and one brother-in-law, Judson (Jud) Hodges.
She is survived by her two daughters, Dorothy Grace Ours and Linda Anne Ours; sister and brother-in-law, Letitia (Tish) Montague Grant and Willard (Will) Grant; first cousin, Catharine Carter Catlett Williams; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Tonkin and Juanita Hodges; nieces, Sally Grant, Michelle Tonkin, and Carolyn Comras; and nephews, Shelby Grant, Jim Hodges, Rob Baker, and Chris Baker, as well as four grand-nieces; one grand-nephew, many cousins, and countless friends.
A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.
Fred L Jenkins Funeral Home is honored to serve the Ours family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bread for the World (www.bread.org).
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.fredjenkinsfuneralhome.com.