Elizabeth Laurent Montague
Elizabeth Laurent Montague, passed away on November 28th 2023 at the age of sixty-two in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County with loved ones by her side. Elizabeth chose to use the End of Life Act to die with dignity after a late stage Cancer Diagnosis. Elizabeth was born in Ventura, California at Community Memorial Hospital on 02/08/1961, the fourth of four daughters of Charles Furbush Montague and Marilyn Alff Montague. She grew up in the Ventura Keys near the beach, but also traveled extensively as a young adult which inspired her appreciation of California, American, European and World art, music and history. She graduated from Ventura High School, and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara studying fine arts, design, music, video and writing, and then went to California Institute of the Arts in Valencia and graduated in 1988.
Elizabeth traveled and lived in various cities in the US, including Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans. Wherever she traveled, she always lived her own way. She constantly expressed herself in her art, which was prolific and varied. From acting to digital art, music to painting, she was constantly creating. Elizabeth began performing music in 1981 in the Santa Barbara and LA area. She collaborated with the following bands during the 1980s; A Few Circles, Victor of the Florist, Laughing Academy, and Tin Brood. She has shown art in prominent galleries in Los Angeles, and in New Orleans starting in 1986, and was a singer songwriter during the 1980s and 1990s. She played bass guitar in the last show of the Gun Club, during their Christmas Benefit in 1995. She consistently worked as a digital artist during the 1990s and 2000s, and also worked in graphic design, sound and motion design, and web development in Culver City, CA. She worked on the Visual Effects for the documentary film Pablo (2012). Her career in music, arts and film lasted forty years.
Elizabeth loved amethyst, cared about animals, and she devoted time and energy to the wellbeing of animals, including being an activist on social media and websites and she remained a vegan in support of this love for animals. She had two dogs and one cat that she loved very much. She also had a special place in her heart for plants. When her brother-in-law was in a nursing home, she brought him a stone pine tree as a gift, and when he passed, she helped plant the tree in the Ventura Botanical Garden. She made time for her niece and nephews, providing tools and teaching them about computers, arts, music and graphic design. She kindly and generously supported their dreams. She also has donated generously to the following non-profits including the Orangutan Foundation International, Rainforest Trust, Center for Biological Diversity, International Rhino Foundation, Last Chance for Animals, Wildlife Conservation Network.
She is survived by her sisters Ann of Seaside, Oregon, Victoria of Carpinteria, California, and Barbara of San Angelo, Texas; and by her niece and nephews Devon, Cameron, Darian, Kit, Rylan and Lane. A private ceremony will be held with family members spreading her ashes at Encinitas Beach, where she walked her dogs and went to spread their ashes. Anyone wishing to contact the family may email Devon for more information at inlovingmemoryofelm@gmail.com A Celebration of Life for Elizabeth will be held on Saturday, June 21st 1pm, 2025 at Ventura Center for Spiritual Living on 101 S. Laurel, Ventura, CA 93001.
You may visit Elizabeth’s website to view her gallery of artwork, music and graphic design: ElizabethMontague.com Another beautiful way to honor Elizabeth is by donating to one of her beloved charities shared above.
