Manuel Montoya

MANUEL MONTOYA, 91, a resident of Chimayo, passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Ninfa Montoya; parents, Felicitas and Melisendro Montoya; siblings, Antonia Vigil, Maria Vigil, Demecio Montoya, Patricia Montoya, Eufelia Martinez, Modesta Padilla, Ascension Herrera, Flora Sanchez, and David Montoya, Elena and Bertha Montoya; grandson, Nicholas Sanchez; son-in-law, Harold Sanchez, Sr. and nephew, Leroy Montoya. Manuel was born in Leadville, Colorado on July 1, 1926 he was married to Joan Ninfa Montoya for 61 years. He was a Veteran of the US Army and served in Germany at the end of the Korean War. He was a devout Catholic and enjoyed traveling around the United States and to various countries. He worked as a carpenter and laborer by trade for many years. Mr. Montoya is survived by his children, Janice Sanchez (Tim Gonzales), Ben Montoya and wife Sandra and Catherine Gonzales and husband Al all of Chimayo; grandchildren, Harold Sanchez, Marlena Sanchez (God-daughter), Cynthia and husband Remie Martinez, Felicia Montoya and Evren Gonzales (Victoria Tapia); great-grandchildren, Daniel, Isaiah and Aliyah Martinez and Shawn Osegueda; brothers and sisters, Salomon Montoya of Colorado, Candelaria Romero of Española, Carmen Vigil of Española, Joann Vigil and husband Tito of La Puebla; sister-in-law, Berna Montoya and numerous other relatives and friends. Public visitation will begin on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada. Burial to take place on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, Harold Sanchez, Evren Gonzales, Remie Martinez, Daniel Martinez, Mel Herrera and Dwayne Vigil. Honorary pallbearers will be all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family of Manuel Montoya has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.