Florence Merl Montgomery, 91, of Sandy Springs, GA died January 20, 2009 of natural causes at Northside Hospital. Born in Pearsall, Texas on August 29, 1917 to Lawrence F. and Florence W. Merl, Florence grew up in Dilly, TX with four siblings, Margaret, Ruth Bernice, Milton and Lawrence. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law. Florence moved to Atlanta in 1937 to attend the Southern Business School. She always said, "Moving to Atlanta was the best thing I ever did!" As an Atlanta career girl, young homemaker and finally grandmother, she saw Atlanta grow through prewar and WWII years into the international city it is today. After secretarial school, she worked for Aetna Insurance. In 1942, she moved to Southern Wood Preserving Co. which was in East Point and a 1/3 mile walk from the end of the trolley line. From 1945 until her marriage in 1950, she worked for All Saints Episcopal Church. Florence and Bruce met in the Elliott Sunday School class at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, married and moved to Virginia where Bruce worked with the FAA. They returned to Atlanta and moved to Sandy Springs in 1956, when Roswell Road was still a two lane, concrete route into Atlanta. As a young mother, Florence was active in the neighborhood and Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church. In 1968 she returned to work with Templeton Engineering and Sales. After retirement in 1978, she earned her amateur radio license (call sign N4TNZ) and with her husband, Bruce, an avid short-wave radio operator for 75 years, became active in the Southern DX Club. In retirement, she continued her zest for life as she learned to weave, became computer literate, regaled family with stories of Dilly, TX in the early 20th century, life in Atlanta in the 1930s and 40s and worked crossword puzzles in ink until her death at age 91. She was also a member of Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church and the Clan Montgomery International. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the QCWA Scholarship Fund c/o Mike Swiderski, 722 Camelot Way, Norcross, GA 30071 or to the charity of your choice. Graveside services will be held on Monday, January 26, 2:00pm, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rev. Ronald Gilreath officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday from 4-6pm at H.M. Patterson and Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd., Sandy Springs, GA 30328.