In the early morning of December 19, 2024, George Lemont "Monte" Barrow passed away peacefully. Monte was born on October 28, 1930, and had recently celebrated his 94th birthday.

Monte was born in Pensacola and was the firstborn child of Louise and George Barrow. Along with his brother and sisters, he spent his youth running barefoot along the railroad tracks, hunting and playing in the fields that are now occupied by Baptist Hospital and swimming and fishing in Jenny's Creek. Monte's first love captured his heart at a young age – and her name was baseball. He loved the game and excelled at it.  In all honesty, he was a natural. Third base was the place he called home. He spent most of his youth and teenage years playing games in and around Alabama and in ballparks along the Panhandle of Florida. The Brooklyn Dodgers drafted Monte right out of high school. He was then traded to the New York Giants. During a budding career in baseball, Monte was drafted by the Army. While in the military, he travelled around the country playing baseball. When his stint serving our country was completed, he returned to professional baseball. For the next couple of years, Monte would play on the Giants' farm league teams working his way up through the ranks until he suffered a career ending injury.

While in high school, Monte set his sights on the girl of his dreams, Dolores Crabtree. He would always laugh when telling their love story, because he had to spend a lot of time wooing her. As with most of Monte's goals, he set out to win her over and lucky for all of us he did! Dolores and Monte were married on February 13, 1953, and had a marriage that lasted a span just shy of 72 years. Together, they taught everyone around them the importance of marriage. Through living with and loving one another, they were an example to all of us as to what a great partnership looks like. Their commitment to each other and to God was on full display each and every day.

After baseball, Monte worked for several insurance companies before landing a job with First Mutual Savings and Loan. His career with First Mutual spanned 25 years and he retired as an Executive Vice President over Mortgage Lending. His dedication to our community included more acts of service to mention. Here are just a few: Chairman of the Board Baptist Hospital – overseeing the construction of the Gulf Breeze campus; Lay Leader - Richards Memorial; Chairman of Finance Committee, Deacon, Sunday School Leader- First Baptist Church; United Way Campaign Chairman. Monte was also a scratch golfer and was the Tiger Point Country Club Champion several times over.

Although Monte's accolades were many, who he was as a person and how he made others feel was his greatest accomplishment. Papa – to his family – always offered the best advice. With any problems we were ever faced with, he would ask if we had given our troubles to the Lord and if we had prayed for an answer. He often stressed "don't be part of the problems you encounter, rather look outward and be part of a solution." He read his Bible daily as a source of strength but also as a means of teaching others about the life-saving ways of Jesus Christ. He was a fisher of men and women. He didn't feel his job as a Christian was to convert people. Rather, he realized that he had an opportunity - through daily acts of service and kindness - to shine a light on the good things that God can do for each one of us.

In all of Papa's Bibles, he wrote notes in the margins and underlined many passages. One book that he visited time and time again was the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is often referred to as the Manual for Living. Perhaps Papa visited this book over and over to serve as a guidebook for his life. Perhaps he hoped that we would pick up his much-loved Bible and glean wisdom from the words that he continually underlined and the from notes that he jotted down in the margins. Through Proverbs, he taught us:

· To devote the start of every day with God time,

· To trust God with all that we do,

· To understand that wisdom is a blessing and through it we are able to help other people,

· That we have the ability to choose what is good and right and to choose wisely, and

· To always be faithful to your people and never turn your back on them.

Being a servant leader was the very essence of who Papa was. To his core, he believed in the goodness of the Lord and the inherent good in other people. Our hope is that these lessons will become a part of your daily living and by doing so, you, too, will shine a light of God's goodness on those around you.

Monte is preceded in death by his parents, Louise and George; his brother, Gilbert; his sister, Elsie and his grandson, Spencer.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dolores; his sons, Scott Barrow (Jennie) and Brett Barrow (Barbra); his nephew, Eddie Crabtree whom he loved like a son, and the greatest joys of his life; his grandchildren, Seth Creel (Katherine), Ben Barrow (Callie), Sydney Barrow and Lucy Barrow and his great grandson, Beau Creel.

A Visitation will be held from 2:00pm until a Celebration of Life begins at 3:00pm Saturday, January 25, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Pensacola, Pleitz Chapel, with Dr. Dave Snyder officiating.

The family would like to thank his wonderful care providers who have been by his side for the past two years – Shannon Swam, his favorite nurse, and his beloved sitters, Summer Burch, Dominique Hicks, Zandra Bohanan and Michelle Hicks. These women fulfilled every need that Papa had and showered him with endless amounts of love. In dying, they clothed him in dignity and shrouded him in love. We are forever indebted to them.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in the name of Monte Barrow to: Baptist Health Care Foundation – Gulf Breeze Hospital, PO Box 17500, Pensacola, FL 32522. This hospital was near and dear to his heart. He was there from the beginning, so it is only fitting that he be part of its next story.