Stella Montoya Obituary

Stella Isabel Montoya of La Plata, N.M., died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, in Farmington. She was 82.

She was born to Onofre R. and Alvina Martinez Jaquez on Sept. 30, 1928, in Silverton.

On June 22, 1948, she married F.F. "Chano" Montoya in Farmington.

For many years, Mrs. Montoya was involved with the "Make It Yourself with Wool" contest that promoted wool products produced in the U.S. She was active in various agricultural organizations and spent a lot of time traveling throughout the country representing important agricultural issues.

In 1994, Mr. and Mrs. Montoya received the New Mexico State Cattleman of the Year award. They were the first to receive the award as a couple. They were also inducted into the History Makers Hall of Fame for Farmington. In 1990, they received the prestigious Citizen Award from the Bureau of Reclamation with the U.S. Department of Interior.

She and her husband served on the Fort Lewis College Foundation board of directors for several years, and was the president of the La Plata Water Conservancy. Mrs. Montoya also received many other awards and served on various boards.

Her son Davin Montoya said Mr. and Mrs. Montoya were as active in Colorado as they were in New Mexico.

"She was always willing to share her political opinions," her family said.

Mrs. Montoya enjoyed working in her yard and garden. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Parish in Farmington.

Mrs. Montoya was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, F.F. "Chano" Montoya; and son Theodore Montoya.

She is survived by her sons Davin Montoya of Hesperus, Anthony Montoya, Louis Montoya and Thomas Montoya, all of La Plata, N.M., and Charles Montoya of Farmington; daughter, Andrea Dunn, of Lamar; brothers Onofre "Buster" Jaquez and Gilbert Jaquez, both of Aztec; sisters Mary Jo Sarason of Albuquerque, Dolores Jaquez of Sonoma, Calif., and Georgia Lewis of Charlotte, N.C.; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. today, Feb. 2, 2011, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 414 N. Allen Ave. in Farmington. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Rev. Tim Farrell will be the celebrant. Burial will take place at Greenhorn Cemetery in La Plata.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Fort Lewis College Foundation, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango CO 81301; Northwest New Mexico Hospice, P.O. Box 3336, Farmington, NM 87499-3336; or Basin Home Health, 200 N. Orchard Ave., Farmington, NM 87401.

Online condolences may be sent at www.danielsfuneral.com.