Robert Montesi

Robert M. Montesi, 81, of Boyle, died Thursday, December 23, 2021, at Bolivar Medical Center. 

A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 27, 2021, at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church with Father Kent Bowlds officiating. The Interment will be in North Cleveland Cemetery, under the direction of Ray Funeral Home. 

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, December 26, 2021, at Ray Funeral Home. 

Mr. Montesi was born on October 7, 1940, to Albert and Helen Montesi of Shaw, MS. He married Patricia Karls in Greenville, MS, on March 15, 1973. Robert was a communicant of Our Lady of Victories Church. He deeply loved his family and was most proud of his children and granddaughters. 

Mr. Montesi was an educator for 50-3/4 years.  He taught in Clarksdale, MS, and then was a counselor in Greenville, MS.  Robert later became principal at Saint Joseph Catholic High School in Jackson, MS.  He spent most of his career as principal of Margaret Green Junior High School and Cleveland High School in Cleveland, MS.  From his white index cards to his just "Teach the children," and "Let's Go, Let's Go," and "Have a great weekend, and choose the church of your choice," he will be dearly missed by all.  

When Mr. Montesi was not educating the minds of the future, he was collecting baseball cards, especially anything to do with Dave "Boo" Ferriss.  He also enjoyed collecting coins and playing poker with his lifelong friends. 

He is predeceased by his loving wife, Patricia Jean Karls Montesi; and parents, Albert and Helen Montesi. 

Survivors include his son, Robert Montesi, Jr. of Boyle; his daughter, Gina Britt and son-in-law, Eddie Britt of Brookhaven, MS; granddaughters, Mary Taylor Montesi of Boyle and Emory Lee Britt of Brookhaven; sister, Mary Helen Waller of Cleveland; nieces Caroline (David) Laster of Cleveland, MS, and Tara (Terry) Wooley of Olive Branch, MS; great nephews, Tanner Wooley and Jon-Albert Wooley of Olive Branch, MS, and Crawford Laster of Cleveland, MS. 

Pallbearers are Stephen Craddock, Bill Hatcher, Crawford Laster, David Laster, Steve Wies, Jon-Albert Wooley, Tanner Wooley, and Terry Wooley. 

Honorary pallbearers are Ronnie Mills and his lifelong poker buddies: Harry Crockett, Harry Dickman, Bill McGraw, Don Street, and Bob Tompkins. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital or Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church.