Elbert Lamont "Monty" Recoulley passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in his home in Wilmington, NC, in order to embark on his next adventure in heaven. Monty was known as a Sigma Nu-er, Entrepreneur, Connoisseur, and Raconteur, which often left people thinking he was Full of Manure.

Born February 17, 1949 in Lafayette, LA, he was the son of the late Francis Louis and Margaret Cochran Recoulley and brother to the late Francis Louis "Butch" Recoulley, Jr. He graduated from Grimsley High School (1967) and North Carolina State University (1971) where he was a proud member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. Next, he earned a second engineering degree at Georgia Institute of Technology (1973).  He owned Greensboro Vending & Coffee Company for 49 years, eventually moving to Wilmington, NC to "retire."  However, since sitting still was never his thing, his days were filled with real estate endeavors, running car washes, and embarking on adventures sailing his boat.

Monty had such a big personality that God definitely broke the mold when he was born.  To borrow one of his famous jokes, "Rumor has it God beat the hell out of the mold maker too."  He loved life and found every day to be the start of a great adventure waiting to be conquered.

Quick to give advice, whether asked or not, he would say "I may have had my faults, but being wrong was not one of them." Much of this advice and mentorship has influenced the lives of those around him. He was a role model in both business and how to deal with adversity with humor, determination, and fortitude.

His mind and wit were sharp, and he could out think most everyone in the room, except that he chose to fill the room with equally sharp friends.  He was the fastest in the room to come up with the answer to a mental math equation, and you always had to pay attention to his jokes or statements because they inevitably had a second level to them. Fortunately, if you missed one of his puns or jokes, he was sure to repeat it (and would even kindly repeat it often if you failed to laugh adequately the first time). His self- esteem was never lacking in an infectious way that made you want to be around him.

He was famous to repeat "I'm going to run my life and not let it run me".  And he did.  He fought prostate, throat, lymphoid, skin and jaw cancer over the past 8 years never acquiescing or slowing down until the very end. He has said many times that cancer couldn't whip him, but sometimes it kept him backed up into the corner! He was so grateful for the life he had, for his friends, his kids and his grandkids and fully recognizing that he had little to do with these blessings, he enjoyed them every day. He never lost faith that God wanted him to live everyday to the fullest and he valued and used every second.

Surviving are his daughter, Jennifer Koontz and husband Charles of Atlanta, GA; son, Mark Recoulley and wife Liz of Holland, MI; grandchildren, Lee Koontz, Davis Koontz, Drew Recoulley, Sam Recoulley, Cece Recoulley and significant other, Susan McGee of Wilmington.

A memorial service will be held at 10 am, Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Cape Fear Country Club with Rev. Crip Hall officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Francis' Cove Development Fund in care of Easterseals UCP at 5171 Glenwood Ave., Suite 211, Raleigh, NC 27612.

Shared memories, stories of Monty's antics, and condolences may be expressed online at www.quinnmcgowen.com.

Quinn McGowen Funeral Home of Wilmington is serving the family.