Monte L Downum

Monte was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He lived on the family farm in Springtown, Arkansas, the only son of Earl Ray Downum and Mary May Bishop. He graduated from Gentry High School in 1952. He married Bonna Kuyper in 1953 and then served in the army from 1954 being honorably discharged in 1961. Monte and Bonna Downum lived in Oklahoma. The army took them to Germany, then they settled in New Jersey. National Airlines hired Monte, moving the couple and their first daughter, Jana Downum to Miami, Florida. Bonna and Monte then had their second daughter, Mauri Downum Carter.

In 1957 he trained in aviation. This began what would be a long and enjoyable career as a flight engineer for National, Pan Am and Delta Airlines, flying many international routes. Monte truly enjoyed his career and said that it wasn’t “work,” because he got to play in the clouds. The Downum family lived in Miami and traveled about the US and Europe.

After Monte and Bonna divorced, Monte lived aboard a sailboat in Coconut Grove, until he met Jan in the early 80s and soon after moved in with her and her youngest tween daughter. 17 years later she agreed to be his second wife. Together they enjoyed sailing and gardening.

After retirement, he introduced Jan to the joys of international travel. Together, they traveled to all seven continents.

Dad enjoyed sharing his adventures around the world. He loved the people and animals of Africa, the Antarctic, and the Galapagos Islands. He often said the only place he missed was Timbuktu!

Over the years, in addition to traveling, he enjoyed many passions including cultivating bonsai and orchids, tinkering with wooden boats, drinking Caribbean rum, adopting stray cats, raising Koi in their backyard

pond, and expressing his pride in his daughters and granddaughters to whomever would listen.

After his wife Jan died in 2018, he moved to The Palace in Kendall where he lived with his cat Lily until his passing. He was grateful that his daughter Jana and her wife Wanda moved back to Florida, closer to him, for his final years.

Monte will be remembered for his spirit of adventure, his warm, down-to-earth nature, and his devotion to the creatures he loved.

He is survived by his first wife Bonna Downum who resides in Keller, TX, his daughter Jana Downum and daughter-in-law Wanda Knapp of Fort Lauderdale, Fl. He is survived by his daughter Mauri Carter and son-in-law Shannon Carter of Trophy Club, TX. Monte’s granddaughters are Shawn Carter of Denver, CO and Riley Carter of Trophy Club, TX.

He is predeceased by his second wife Jan Gardiner. He is survived by his stepdaughters Jennifer Gardiner of Charlotte, NC, Catherine Willinger of Newton, MA, and Pam Gardiner of Woolwich, ME.

A Celebration of Life and Thank You for the staff at the Palace Suites in Kendall, Fl. will be held Jan 15, 2024 from 10:30-11:30 am..