02/12/2023
Briar Awtry, 29 of Montezuma passed away Sunday morning, February 12, 2023 at his home near Montezuma.
His body will be cremated after the visitation and a Celebration of Life will begin at 10:30 am Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma.
Burial of his cremains will be held in the Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma immediately following the service. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Friday, February 17, 2023 at the
Community Hope Church with the family present to greet friends and relatives from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made in the family’s name and will be designated to his sons, Colton and Beau. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.
Briar Jay Awtry, the son of Robert and Dannella (Carter) Awtry, was born on September 24, 1993 in Pella Iowa. He graduated from Knoxville High School with the class of 2012 where he enjoyed playing baseball and football. On July 14, 2018, Briar was united in marriage to Julie Audas in Oskaloosa, Iowa. To this union two sons were born, Colton and Beau. Briar worked for Pella Corp.,
Theisens in Pella, PPI in Pella and most recently Iowa Wood Preservers in Oskaloosa where he was just promoted to Plant Supervisor. Briar was first a member of the Harvey Fire Department, then Clay Township and most recently a member of the Montezuma Fire Department along with the Barnes City Fire Department where he was the current fire chief. Briar was also taking several firefighting classes and going through his EMT training. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed hunting and working on small engines. Briar was a kid at heart where he was an avid Pokemon Collector and loved playing video games.
He is survived by his wife, Julie Awtry of Montezuma; his children, Colton and Beau Awtry both of Montezuma; his parents, Bob and Dannella Awtry of Harvey; his maternal grandmother, Beverly Rumley of Carlisle; his maternal grandfather, Eugene Carter of Des Moines; 
his parents-in-law, Steve and Judy Audas of Montezuma; his sister-in-law, Stephanie (Cody Meinecke) Audas of Montezuma; his nephew, Hunter Meinecke of Montezuma; grandmother-in-law, Jane Audas of Montezuma along with many other relatives and friends.
Briar was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, William and Beverly Awtry; his step grandfather, James Rumley along with Julie’s grandparents, Jim and Donna Fisk and Terry Audas and an aunt, Marcy Leeper.