Marie Frances Montgomery Chenault, 79, of 1027 Ingalls Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Saturday, December 4, 2010 at her residence.

She was born in Bellepoint, Summers County, West Virginia, on June 18, 1931, a daughter of the late Edward Rawson Montgomery and Lucy Kate Grimmett Montgomery.

Marie retired after 46 years working as a registered nurse at the former Chesapeake and Ohio Hospital in Clifton Forge and later at Alleghany Regional Hospital.

She was a graduate of the C & O Nursing School in Clifton Forge in 1951, was a recipient of the Nurse of the Year Award, and was a member of the retired C & O Nurses Association.

She was a member of the local Red Hat Society. Marie was a member of the Central United Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Sunday School Class, Wesleyan Fellowship, and the United Methodist Women.

Marie was a loving wife and mother. She will be forever remembered for her bright, loving kindness to everyone. Her family members will always hold close to their hearts her tremendous love and support for them.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Linwood "Bob" Chenault, Sr. of Clifton Forge; two daughters, Diane Murray and husband, Allen of Montpelier, Virginia and Debra Sue Chenault and life partner, Margaret Elizabeth Squires of Asheville, North Carolina; a son, Robert Linwood Chenault, Jr. and wife, Elizabeth of Clifton Forge; a brother, McCajah Thomas "M.T." Montgomery and wife, Peggy of Hinton, West Virginia; two grandchildren, Heather Marie Coffey and husband, James, and Henry Murray; sisters-in-law, Ruth Chenault of Clifton Forge and Aneita Roberts of Dothan, Alabama; and a number of nieces and nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. from the Central United Methodist Church in Clifton Forge with Rev. Barry Burkholder officiating. In keeping with her wishes, her body was cremated. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 16, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422 or to the Mountain Regional Hospice Volunteers, P.O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422.

Arrangements are being handled by Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.