Thomas A. Montgomery, retired Latin teacher, horticulturist and Oblate of Clear Creek Abbey went to his eternal reward on Tuesday September 2, 2025. Tom was born in Oklahoma City in 1928, attended OKC public schools then served in the US Army after World War II. He discerned a vocation as a Carthusian monk (ultimately deciding to be a Benedictine hermit instead), taught for a while in a Catholic seminary and attended all three of Oklahoma's major universities. Tom studied at OU then later obtained a degree in Horticulture from OSU and finally a degree in French from TU.

Tom spent many years working in the landscaping business and even more years teaching Latin for Tulsa Public Schools at Central and Booker T. Washington high schools.

Tom spent his retirement years living at both his hermitage near the gate of Clear Creek Abbey and at his Tulsa home next door to his sister Elaine. Tom and Elaine watched movies together and especially enjoyed watching Tucker Carlson on Thursday evenings.

It is no surprise that Tom was devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass and was instrumental in helping the local community continue this treasure of the Catholic Church first in the basement of Holy Family Cathedral, then at Saint Augustine's and Most Precious Blood when the apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter was welcomed into the Diocese of Tulsa.

Tom was equally devoted to the Benedictine monks whose gate he resided near for 25 years.

He offered himself as an Oblate for Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek Abbey and spent many hours in prayer at both Clear Creek and in Tulsa with his good friend Paul reciting the Divine Office, studying the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas and translating various liturgical and theological books from Latin and French into English. Tom enjoyed teaching Latin to parishioners of Most Precious Blood Parish. Well into his 95th year, he was still teaching Latin classes to students in his home.

Tom will be remembered fondly by all his Tulsa and Clear Creek friends for his quick wit, warm and friendly sense of humor, willingness to talk for hours about the interesting life he lived and for his true spirit of Benedictine hospitality. "To your health!" was always his refrain. Tom was a Catholic gentleman. Those of us who worshipped at Saint Augustine Church with Tom can still picture him sitting in the last pew on the right side and always helping with the collections, never removing his beloved trench coat.

A Rosary will be said at Most Precious Blood Church on Tuesday September 9 at 9:00 AM with a Requiem Mass to be said for the repose of Tom's soul at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at 1:30 PM at Three Hearts Cemetery in Hulbert, Oklahoma, close to Clear Creek Abbey.

If you would like to contribute in Thomas's honor please see below:

Clear Creek Abbey
5804 W Monastery RD
Hulbert, OK 74441-5698


Catholic Church of the Most Precious Blood
3029 S 57th W AVE
Tulsa, OK 74107