July 2, 1960 – February 17, 2022
After growing up in Colorado Springs, Catherine went on to earn a B.A. in Architecture and a B.A. in Environmental Design from the University of Kansas in 1983. She worked as an architect in Maryland and Washington D.C. and held several positions over 13 years at the University of Maryland, College Park.
In 1999, Catherine moved to Oklahoma and became a preservation architect with the State Historic Preservation Office. She would later become the Director of Construction and Maintenance for the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Outreach Division, where she oversaw protecting, preserving, and improving historic structures in Oklahoma. She was responsible for the upkeep of thirty-one museums, military sites, historic homes, and affiliate sites across Oklahoma.
In 2009, Catherine started her own firm – Preservation and Design Studio. The studio is made up of a talented team of architects and historians and provides services including zoning, design, historic preservation review board representation, and more.
Catherine was an active member of the American Institute of Architects and served on multiple boards for architectural organizations in Oklahoma, including the Gibbs College Architecture Professional Advisory Board at the University of Oklahoma.
Gibbs College Dean Hans Butzer said, “Catherine served our students through her Gibbs College professional advisory board work. She advocated for the celebration and preservation of historic structures across our State. Most importantly, Catherine advocated for the countless communities whose identities are so deeply connected to and shaped by those historic structures.”
Catherine also had a lifetime involvement in charitable efforts, including St. Baldrick’s Day and volunteering at the Friends of the Library Book Sale. Her hobbies included photography, beads, travel, and family genealogy.
She is survived by her husband Alexander Montgomery, daughters Caitlin and Faith, stepson Edward, siblings Robin, Michaela, Sharon, and Zachary, and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Featured Image courtesy of The Oklahoman, 2008
Gibbs College of Architecture (GCA) alumnus Tony Wu has spent nearly two decades at Pelli Clarke & Partners, rising to Senior Associate and leading projects on an international scale. His most recent notable work, a transit-oriented development in Yibin, China, earned national recognition in the country and was featured on ArchDaily.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Tim Stephens has accepted the position of Senior Director of Development for Gibbs College, beginning April 15, 2026.
Dr. Khosrow Bozorgi, professor of Architecture at the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, is advancing a major research project that examines how societies across time and place have organized the built environment in strikingly similar ways.
