Mary Montez Corbell McNaughten, 87, of Lufkin, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at her residence. Montez was born November 6, 1937 in Shelby County, to P. C. and Lovetta Emmons Corbell. Being the oldest of 6 siblings, it was incumbent upon Montez to teach her brother and young sisters all she learned in school. So began her history of teaching.

She began at age five at Huxley School and graduated from Strong High School in 1955. She attended SFA State College (now University), Lamar University, and Texas Western (now UTEP) over many years and graduated from the University of Georgia after all her children were born. She was a most appreciated math teacher at Shelbyville High School and Hemphill High School and taught many math courses as adjunct at Angelina College. After retiring from teaching several times, she was asked at age 80 to tutor 7th and 8th grade students in math for the Texas Starr Test, which she excitedly did. She had a real gift for math.

Montez and James Wendell (Joe) McNaughten married in 1984 and blended their families. They enjoyed almost 40 years together. What a blessing Joe was to her.

Montez was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. She was a very good cook and loved cooking for her large family. Corbell Christmas always enjoyed her vegetables and soups and, of course, Joe’s brisket!! Just like her mother, Montez was an excellent seamstress. Her daughters always had beautiful outfits to wear to every occasion.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children; son: Dr. Lee (Rusty) Waller, Jr. and wife, Dr. Sharon Snider Waller; daughters, Karen Johnson and husband, Glenn, Kimberly Elliott, Konnie Long and husband, Randy, Mary Ann Oliver and husband, Craig, Lydia Turner, and Stacie McNaughten; her sisters, Jerry Sue Williams, Betty Kay Blount and husband, Gene, and Charlotte Ingle; sisters-in-law, Mary Joyce O’Riley, Shirley Park and husband, Stephen, Helen Forman and Betty Turley.

Also, her beloved grandchildren, Bradley Goodwin and wife, Sherry, Dr. Melissa Rice and husband, David, Amanda Boyle and husband, Sam, Jonathan Waller and wife, Erin, Jared Waller, Zoey Waller, Jayce Murry and wife, Susan, Jacob Elliott and wife, Emily, Nicole Brown, Elizabeth Poindexter, Adrienne Poindexter, Danielle Turner, Kory Castillo, Aidan Gilbert, and Avery Gilbert; great grandchildren: Victoria (Zack), Maddie (Jake), Jeremiah, Joshua, Miriam, Gabriel, Evelyn, Jackson, Christian, Pete, Jacob, Reagan, Allie, Hallie, Avery, Brady, Lola, Jackson, Jada, Clair, Emily, and Khole; one great-great grandchild on the way; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; and countless friends and former students.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 40 years, Joe McNaughten; precious daughter, Kathi Goodwyn; son-in-law: Billy Poole; father and mother, PC and Lovetta Corbell; father and mother-in-law, Benton and Lydia Mc-Naughten; granddaughters, Leslie Brown and Katy Brownlee; grandson, Timothy Turner; great grandsons: Nathan and Kaleb Kline; brother and sister-in-law, Perry and Sandra Corbell; sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Dale Vincent; brother-in-law, Bennie McNaughten; sister-in-law, Lois Anderson and husband, Roy; and four infant brothers.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2025 at Starr Funeral Home Chapel, 510 Starr Street in Hemphill.

Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Starr Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jon Waller officiating. Honorary Pastor will be Bro. Mike Tieman.

Burial will follow service in Bethany Memorial Gardens Cemetery located in Milam, Texas. Serving as pallbearers are Brad Goodwin, Jared Waller, Zoey Waller, David Rice, Kory Castillo, Aidan Gilbert, Sam Boyle, Jayce Murry, Jacob Elliott, Kevin Ingle, Jay Ingle, Micah Ingle, Cody Corbell, Daniel Stokes, Matt Vincent, Travis Parrott, David Williams and Darin Williams.

Memories and condolences may be shared at starrfuneralhome. com.

Editor’s Note: Montez McNaughten was so much to so many. A brilliant educator for many reasons, but the loudest of those is noted by her former students on her passing. This week, social media in our community lit up with remembrances of Mrs. McNaughten. What stood out was how she cared for her students - and that care translated both in and out of the classroom. She cared and they all knew it. I was not a student of Montez’s- I actually am related by marriage- and when she realized I had purchased the Sabine County Reporter, she stopped by to say hello a few times and give me her two cents. She even took me to lunch. She told me she was proud of me. She told me she loved me dearly and encouraged me to continue writing- both for the paper and for myself. Her words stuck and her hugs were priceless. She let me know she was rooting for me, my marriage and my small business. That kind of care meant so much. And I will miss her exponentially. I wish she had been my math teacher, too.