Monty Carl Allison

Introduction

Opening Statement:

Monty Carl Allison was born August 3, 1949 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and peacefully passed Monday, December 9th, 2024 at the age of 75. Having past from this life to the next, Monty leaves behind a beautiful family with two daughters Monica Rowell & Jenni Allison, four grandchildren - Austin, Walker, Kennedy, and Tucker, along with an young man Monty considered his adopted son Tyler Oldham. Though Monty’s passing was sudden the legacy he has left and the impact he has made in the lives of those closes to him is immeasurable.

The suddenness of his passing is naturally a reminder of what God declared in Hebrews 9:27, that death for us finite human beings is inevitable.

As God revealed in that passages…

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV)

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once…

Because of this we find it oh so true that…

The Duration Of Life Is Short

Life Is Short No Matter How Long One Lives.

That it doesn’t matter how long someone has lived to those that are still left here, it wasn’t long enough.

Whether only a few hours or 100 years, we who love our dear loved ones that have passed, know our time with them was short.

We are reminded, at these times, of this important fact, at the real brevity of life.

James 4:14 ESV

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Psalm 39:5 ESV

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

Years ago I heard an elderly man in his 80’s responded to the question, “how are you doing” so the effect of…

“I’m doing alright for an old man who has lived a short troubled time on earth up into my 80’s and yet I have been blessed with several years passed that which God has allotted.”

It took me a bit to grasp what he was saying, but then he pointed me to Psalm 90:10-12 which reads…

Psalm 90:10–12 ESV

10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Summary

His point was that even though we have a short and seemingly troubled life here on earth, as Job reflected on in Job 14:1, our life in reality is full of blessings.

And in this short life we can create a plethora of memories with those we love and care for so dearly.

There is no doubt that understanding the short duration of life allows us to make the most of the life we have left with those around us.

During this most painful time how is that possible?

How Do We Make The Most Of Life Right Now?

Relying On Are Loved Ones Still Alive.

Family and friends are what God has blessed us with.

Job’s friends, when they heard of the great loss he had suffered, came to his aid and were initially a great comfort to him.

Job 2:11 (ESV)

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.

To all the family and friends of Monty, allow those here today and others who love you to mourn with you and comfort you in this time of pain and sorrow.

We also make the most of life right now by…

Relying On Our God, Our Creator.

It is the God of the bible who has been apart of your life from the very beginning.

He gave you life and knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16).

He gave you blessings outside of your mother’s womb and has watched over you (Matthew 6:25-33).

The same God who sent his only begotten Son for all of us because he wants us all to be with him forever is the same God, your God, whom you can take comfort in today.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 55:22 ESV

22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Summary

How do we pick up the pieces during this most challenging and painful time…

We look for the peace that surpasses all understanding from God and the family and friends he has given us.

Conclusion

Monty Carl Allison was man who loved his work, his golf, his cigars, his motorcycles, his James Bond, and his coffee.

Monty enjoyed greatly, in the last few months of his life, watching over and protecting the elderly ladies at his apartment complex and encouraging the manager there each morning when getting there and evening when leaving.

Monty’s devotion to his friends Den and Vernon has kept their friendship thriving for years and though their adventures were great I hear, their loyalty to each other greater.

Most importantly his love for his daughters and grandchildren was immense as could be easily seen in the many pictures of him with his both his daughters and their children.

I want to leave you with this.

Right now the pain is almost unbearable but it is during these times that we learn of a powerful blessing from God, those memories of Monty will start, if they have not already, to flood in.

Hold on to those memories, those wonderful times when you all were with Monty and those times he brought such joy to you and share those with each other.

Let’s pray.