Monty Percifield passed away in the early hours of June 18, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. He fought a courageous battle against lung cancer for 12 months. He fought with the last breath he had in his body. He wanted so desperately to take one more elk hunt with his boys. His heart was eager but his body was ready for a much needed rest. He will continue to do his hunting in Greener Pastures.

Monty was born in Kennewick, Washington on Sept. 28, 1954. He lived in the Kennewick area until he was 12 years old; he then began to follow his father as he worked in many areas in Washington and Montana. He met the love of his life, Janet Rooney in Libby Montana while attending Libby High School. Where you saw Monty, you saw Janet. Monty married his High School sweetheart on December 1, 1973. Monty returned to Kennewick Washington in Sept. 1974 where they began to raise their beautiful family.

Monty was a proud member of Laborers Local 348 from 1976 to his recent retirement in June 2015. He worked many job sites in the Hanford area, learning many different crafts along the way. He may have become ill from this hard work but he always appreciated his job for putting a roof over his family’s head and keeping their bellies full.

Monty loved hunting elk, deer, beer and cougar with his great “huntin’ buddies.” The many stories that were told and embellished along the way were well worth the year long wait. One of his greatest joys was his accomplishment of bagging his first deer while archery hunting with his sons. They taught him everything they knew about the sport. He loved bragging about his trophies and more so about his sons’ trophies that adorn his home.

His daughter enjoyed celebrating her birthday at deer camp every year where she received her first bicycle when she was six years old. When her dad had a successful hunt he brought home the deer legs for her to make prints in the dirt. He loved bass fishing and loved calling himself a professional amateur bass angler. Monty had the honor of fishing in his first bass tournament with his son shortly before being diagnosed with cancer. He loved hunting and fishing and enjoying the outdoors. I will truly miss him yelling as he walked out the door, “Goin’ fishin’ honey, be back before dark.

Monty is survived by his loving wife, Janet; his son Jeremy and wife Lisa; son Andy and his wife Crystal and daughter Julia. His children blessed him with precious, beautiful grandchildren, Brooklynn and Kaleb Priest and Taylon Percifield; Kannon Percifield; Keegan and Lilly Brigham and also, by their daddy Justin Brigham. Monty was also very lucky to have special bonus children and grandchildren who loved to call him Papa Monkey. Shawn, Charity, Lil Shawn and Bree Gegg; Ryan, Jackie, Eli and Kylee Koleber; and Curt, Megan, Cailin and Aiden Strifert. His grandchildren meant the world to him, he was lovingly known as Grampa, Gramps, Papa and of course Papa Monkey. Leaving this world before him were, In-Laws, Jean and Mick Rooney, Mother, Charlotte Wilcox and just 8 short days before his death he lost his sweet Baby Gage Percifield.

Monty’s “Send Off” will be on June 24, 2016; 2:00 pm at Einan’s at Sunset (Einan’s Funeral Home), 915 Bypass Highway, Richland, Washington.  Reception to follow at Kennewick Eagle’s, 115 North Fruitland.

The family welcomes your stories, memories and/or photos of their loved one, please share at the services or reception.