Monte William Kreis

Monte William Kreis, 74, of Stanton, Texas was welcomed home to Heaven on March 8th, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas with his family by his side.  Visitations will be held on Monday, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, March 11th, in Stanton, Texas at Gilbreath Funeral Home.  Graveside service will be held 2:00 PM, Tuesday, March 12th in White Deer, Texas at the White Deer Cemetery.

Monte was born on September 18, 1949 in Pampa, Texas to Frankie and Ellen Kreis.  As a young boy his family moved from Skellytown to White Deer to live the rest of his young life in the home that Frankie and Monte built together in 1957. While at White Deer High, Monte was a beloved member of the 1965 State Runner-Up Football Team.  He continued his love for football at Cisco Junior College. When he returned home from Cisco to White Deer, he was reunited with the love of his life, Sherrie Pettit.  Monte and Sherrie were married in 1975 in the White Deer Methodist Church.  After marriage Monte and Sherrie completed their bachelor’s degrees in education at West Texas University in Canyon. They began their coaching careers in Happy, followed by Stinnett, Phillips, and Borger before returning home to White Deer to raise their family.  It was when Monte was called into the ministry in 1992, when he began bi-vocational ministry in Hedley.  One short year later he was called into full time ministry and was relocated to Higgins, Booker, Wellington, Colorado City, Canadian, Stanton, Garden City, and Midland through his 31 years of ministry.

Monte’s love for sports and coaching never faded while his girls, Shasta and Shante, were his number 1 players.  Along Monte’s side was Sherrie, they never missed one activity or sporting event from t-ball, basketball, cross country, volleyball, cheer, golf, tennis, or track you could always count on Monte to coach his girls and others to meet their full potential.

As a family we thought we knew what love was, but the moment he became a Dido, our definition of love changed through the eyes of Dido.  Being a very active Dido to his 4 grandchildren was one of his prized titles and accomplishments.

Monte is leaving behind the love of his life, Sherrie Kreis; their daughter, Shasta Bryan and husband, Chris Bryan, and their children, Brayden and Colt Bryan; their youngest daughter, Shante Ezell and husband, Micheal Ezell, and their children, Katelyn and Kameron Ezell; and his oldest daughter, Stephanie, and husband Lionel Luster, of Bridgeport.  Monte was also preceded in death by his parents, Frankie and Ellen Kreis, and daughter, Melissa Couch.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Joe Arrington Cancer Center in Lubbock, Texas; 4101 22nd Pl, Lubbock, Tx 79410.

While this time is difficult for our hearts here on Earth, he knows that Dido has prepared this path for his family our entire lives through his faith.  He once told a grandson, “When you are sad it is okay to cry, because your tears are just prayers when you have no words.”  As a family we will stand on these words.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gilbreath Funeral Home in Stanton. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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