George Monte Montague

George James 'Monte' Montague, Jr., 90, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday morning, January 23, 2007 at his home.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, February 10, 2007 at Palm Mortuary Eastern on 7600 S. Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada. A gathering of family and friends will be held at 4:00 p.m. following the funeral service at Rae’s Restaurant and Lounge (2531 Wigwam Parkway). Monte’s urn will be placed with his wife with a graveside service at a later date. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors of Grants Pass, Oregon are in charge of arrangements.

'Monte' was born January 31, 1916 in Alameda, California. He graduated from Fremont High School in Oakland, CA. He attended some business college. He served in the US Army Aircorp from January 13, 1942 to November 26, 1945; Honorable Discharge. On August 10, 1951, in Mexico, he married the former Elouise Jones. During his lifetime, he owned and operated, Western Product Finishing, Las Vegas Boat Center, Monte Specialty Company, Polaris Engineering Company, and Silver Slots, Inc. all in Las Vegas, Nevada during the years 1954 through 1982. In the earlier days of Las Vegas, he initiated licensing of new gaming machines, repaired and maintained slot machines, created and silk screened slot machine payout signs, had his own slot machine routes in local bars and casinos, as well as owning two bars located near Nellis AFB. He was the one who first licensed the popular black jack and pokermatic machines of today''s casinos. In 1982 together with his wife, he moved to Cedar City, Utah and started G.E.M. Enterprises. Gold Beach, Oregon became home until health issues took his wife back to Utah. In 2003, Cave Junction became home at Mountain Man RV Park along the Illinois River, then with his own health issues, he moved to a beautiful park along the Rogue River where he lived until the 23rd.

He was a licensed Realtor, he patented his own accountant forms, Cub Master during 1959 - 1961, a charter member of the Lake Mead Association, a regular member of the Lake Mead Yacht Club, and director for the Condominium Association of Jots Resort, Oregon. His hobbies included swimming, boating, camping, fishing, horse back riding, reading flying magazines and he especially enjoyed reading Popular Mechanics and Popular Science. His main hobby was flying his own personal single engine airplanes, he was a private pilot, gaining his license in July 1948. He was a member of AOPA, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association since 1973, and a member of EAA, Expermential Aircraft Assoiciation since 1977. Topping flying was motorcycles, owning Harleys during his young days to riding a 250CC up through his 89th year. He enjoyed riding tricks with his motorcycles in his younger days.

Survivors include his three daughters, Vicki Waple (and her husband Curtis Waple) of Selma, Oregon, Rita Montague of Las Vegas, Nevada, Teri Montague of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one son, Craig J. Montague (and his wife K Montague) of Las Vegas Nevada; a daughter-in-law, Martha Montague of Las Vegas, Nevada; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Elouise Jones Montague (wife) - 2003 and Todd E. Montague (son) -2005.

Condolences may be sent to the Montague family at www.since1928hull.com.