BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jean Kirkman

Montgomery was the kindest person you could ever meet. Blessed with a nimble mind and compassionate nature, when Jean passed away at age 94 on Feb. 10, she left behind an adoring family who will deeply miss her.

She was born in Nashville in 1925, the daughter of John and Ada Kirkman. They then moved to Birmingham, Alabama, a place she was to call home for most of her life. After graduating from Phillips High School, Jean attended Stephens College. She transferred to Vanderbilt where she was a member of Tri Delta. It was at Vanderbilt that Jean met her future husband, John Montgomery, and they married in 1947.

Jean loved the simple pleasures in life, like cooking, sewing and tending her garden, and she took great joy in arranging flowers for services at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook. She was an excellent cook and an extremely organized person whose to do list was always at hand.

She and John traveled the world together. From Florence, Italy, to Bangkok, Thailand, they spent their later years visiting many of the most beautiful places on earth.

She had an active social life and a large circle of lifelong friends. She and her bridge club members met at Birmingham Country Club on a weekly basis for over 50 years (although in later years they hardly ever played bridge).

Jean was the most devoted of mothers. She leaves behind her son John (Nan), daughter, Elaine; her son Kirk (Louise); and her daughter, Adrianne (Paul).

She had tremendous affection for her grandchildren, Will Montgomery (Betsy) and Luke Montgomery (Leslie), and Grayson and Abigail Miller and they all loved her in return. She also took great delight in her great-grandchildren, Eve and Boone Montgomery.

Jean is gone now, but those left behind will always remember her to be the kindness and most thoughtful person imaginable. The world is a lesser place without her.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to The American Macular Degeneration Foundation at macular. org.