Jessica “Alberta” Montgomery, age 83 of Dayton, entered the presence of Jesus in the loving care of her family at her home on Friday, August 7, 2026. She was born in Pikeville, Tennessee, on July 6, 1943, to the late Benton and Eunice Clark. With her passing, she was reunited with her husband and love of her life of 60 years, Jerry Montgomery, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Caitlyn Blaylock; mother-in-law, Nora Montgomery; brothers, Clifford Clark, Don Clark, Wendall Clark, and Thurston “Jake” Clark; and sisters, Jeanette Clark, Lois Patton, and Fraba Smith.

Bert spent her childhood in the New Harmony and Summer City communities on Dayton Mountain, which remained a special place to her throughout her life. She made her home with her family in Cranmore Cove and spent the majority of her years there as a homemaker, always proclaiming that she helped raise most of the children in the area. Always having a heart for babies and the elderly, later in life she served as a caregiver for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as seniors who needed assistance in their homes.

She was always “on the go” and loved to visit local thrift stores and yard sales for special finds. She also loved to travel with her family and friends, with her favorite places to visit being Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and family trips to Gulf Shores. Her true love, however, was old country music which she loved to listen to, sing and watch on TV. She loved the Grand Ole Opry, Minnie Pearl and The Mother Church of Country Music which she was able to visit in recent years and record her own version of “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and George Jones sang the songs of her life, and no one could ever say 90s country music was “old country” in her presence unless it pertained to Alan Jackson or Vince Gill. Bert was described as “one-in-a-million,” and was loved for her big personality, caring nature, amazing story-telling, and contagious laughter.

Alberta is survived by her children, Tammy (Donald) Blaylock of Dayton, and Rick (Janet) Montgomery of Sale Creek; her grandchildren, Stephanie (Justin) Killingsworth of Ooltewah, Brandi (Eric) Goodwin, Leigh (Mike) Nixon, all of Dayton and T.J. Hill of Sale Creek; her great-grandchildren, Jayden Goodwin, Malaya Goodwin, Caley Goodwin, Zander Nixon and Braelyn Nixon all of Dayton, and Ealyn Riggs, Emerson Killingsworth and Kinsley Killingsworth of Ooltewah; her brother, Leon (Justina) Clark; and her sisters, Lue Henderson and Diane Qualls of Dayton, Irene Thurman of Pikeville, and sister-in-law Diane Clark of Dayton. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews she loved dearly, Carolyn (Billy) Davis, special grandchildren: Anita (Dustin) Henderson, Kaytlin Meyers. Kamryn McMillen, Kimmery Mckensey, & Kennedi Sharp, also caregiver Natalie Montgomery, and friend Sue Blaylock.

Funeral services for Alberta will be on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Bobby Schafer officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Cove Burchard Cemetery after the service.

Please share your memories and photos of Alberta on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, Tennessee, where they will receive friends on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 12:00 noon until the time of the service.