Nova Lea Montgomery (Knightstep), 50, of Coahoma, passed from this earth Sunday, June 24, 2018 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Crosby County, Texas.Nova Lea was born to R.C. and Candy Knightstep on March 30, 1968 in Odessa, Texas. She was raised in Odessa and graduated from Odessa High School in 1986. She received an associates degree from Odessa College in 1988. Nova earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish in 1990 from Texas Tech University.While at Odessa College she met Les Montgomery. They married on August 25, 1990 after both had earned their degrees from Texas Tech. Shortly after they married, they moved to Paintsville, Kentucky where Les was working for Dowell Schlumberger. Eighteen months later they moved with DS again to Perryton, Texas. In January of 1993, Les took a job with Sid Richardson Carbon Company at the Pilot Plant in Big Spring so they could be closer to family. They bought a house with a little land, so Nova could be reunited with her horse BJ.Nova was a substitute teacher at Coahoma High School for the 1994-1995 school year. In June of 1995 Nova gave birth to their first child Shelbi Ana. After Shelbi’s birth, Nova became a full time stay at home mom. Seven years later the family was blessed with another child, Austyn Rhea. Nova exemplified what a stay at home mom should be. She loved both of her daughters very very much and always made sure the girls were where they needed to be and on time. Nova wore out several vehicles driving the girls to all the activities they were involved in. She was very active in the girls lives. She coached gymnastics at the YMCA and coached a cheer squad. Later when Austyn played softball, Nova picked up the hobby of taking photographs at Austyn’s sporting events. Nova not only took pictures of Austyn, but she also took pictures of the kids that were on Austyn’s teams or kids she knew. She loved sharing her photos with the other kids and their families. She would sit in the stands at track meets all day long snapping photos and cheering for the kids.Nova is proceeded in death by her father R.C. Knightstep; her paternal grandparents Riley and Minnie Bell Knightstep; and maternal grandparents Bill and Dot Kite. She is survived by her husband, Les Montgomery; daughters, Shelbi Browne and husband Jake; and Austyn Montgomery; her mother, Candy Knightstep; and precious granddaughter, Crosby Rose Browne.A celebration of Nova Lea’s life will be Saturday, September 8, 2018 at the Coahoma High School Softball Field in Coahoma at 6:30 pm. Please come in casual attire and bring a chair with you.The family would like to thank Howard County and all of our friends around this great country and the world for all the help, thoughts and prayers. We love you!,
