Sara Montez Earley

Sara Montez Wilkinson Earley, 92, of Sylacauga, passed away on November 10, 2022. Montez lived most of her life in Birmingham and Tarrant.

Montez or Tump, as she was affectionately known by her close friends and family, was born on October 18, 1930 to Marion and Mattie Lou Wilkinson. She graduated from Jefferson County High School (later became known as Tarrant High School), where she was a cheerleader. During those years, she loved to dance and would go jitterbugging with friends. She married the love of her life, Clyde M. Earley Jr, known to family and friends as Tim and known to his grandchildren as Pop. They were married for almost 74 years.

Montez was a homemaker raising her children for 20+ years. She then entered the workforce at Motion Industries as a bookkeeper. She enjoyed working with so many of her friends. Once she retired, she and her husband loved spending time watching their grandchildren in their many activities. They traveled to watch them play football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, school plays, dance recitals, and cheerleading. Montez loved to laugh! She had such an infectious laugh. Just hearing her laugh, would make others join in the laughter. In her quiet time at home, she enjoyed reading and would visit the library often to check out 2 or 3 books for her weekly read. She also loved sewing, doing crossword puzzles, and painting.

Montez was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters, Gaynell Cotton, Joyce Goodwin, Imogene Tidwell; her brother, Ed Wilkinson; and her infant daughter, Traci Anneice Earley. She is survived by her husband, Clyde, and her children, Terri Edwards (Mike), Tim Earley (Gill), Tammy Bartow (Murry), Tina Earley-Smithson (Rusty), her 10 grandchildren, and her 13 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Montez Earley’s name to Fayetteville Methodist Church located at 5441 Old Fayetteville Road in Sylacauga, Al 35151; the Alzheimer’s Association, or your favorite charity.