John Montoya

John Lewis Montoya was born in Santa Fe, NM in 1965 to Eugene and Dora Montoya. He grew up in Albuquerque, NM with brothers Martin Montoya and Reuben Montoya. He attended Albuquerque Highschool where he graduated in 1983. On June 17, 1984 he married his sweetheart Nora Ortega in Santa Fe, NM. John and Nora had two children Merlinda Montoya and Jonathan Montoya who reside in Albuquerque.

John was a devoted husband and father, loving son, loyal brother, giving uncle, helping brother-in-law, and caring friend. His entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age. He built his own skate park with a concrete company in his grandmother’s backyard at the age of 11 so his friends and him could have a place to master their skills. By junior year in high school John opened his first business a paint and body shop, while attending school day and night to ensure he could graduate with his class. Since then John has owned several companies a Chem-Dry, Quick Gym, Handy Man Matters, and Silverado Stucco just to name a few.  John’s outgoing go-getter positive attitude served him well in his long career in sales. Most recently John was working with AAA Roofing while also running Silverado Stucco a company he started with his best friend since kindergarten Herb Cervantes. Building friendships with customers all over the Albuquerque area, there wasn’t a place he went that there wasn’t someone who knew him or of him. One thing that was for certain is that John was addicted to crushing his goals and yes, it was always GOALS not just one.

While it seemed as John was almost always working but  he certainly knew how to have fun. Always the life of the party full of energy, hilarious jokes, amazing stories and the ability to turn the simplest dinner or encounter into a memorable experience. How he found enough time in the day to do all he did nobody knows (might have been all that STARBUCKS COFFEE another of John’s favorites), but no matter how busy he was he would find the time somehow to help anyone with anything. Whether it was a leaking roof, car problems, home repairs, or yard work to name a few he was the one to call. There wasn’t a thing he didn’t know how to fix it was simply amazing how much he could do.

John made sure to fill his life with as much as he could and never took a day for granted. His devotion to his family and drive to ensure that they always had what they needed and more was astounding. With all his hard work he found ways to fund his most treasured of activity, traveling!

He was always looking to explore new places with a big smile, open mind and an awesome attitude. Him, his wife and children enjoyed many fascinating trips together that they will forever hold in their hearts and memories. One of which included another 15 family members on an incredible Kauai Family trip in 2015. From a Hawaiian luau, to sun filled beach days, to ziplining through the jungle John was the leader of the pack teaching us what fun was all about on that magical island (where he informed us all that his favorite, Elvis Presley filmed movies there!)

John’s unfailing love and devotion for his family will be forever missed. Words will never define the tremendous amount of joy John spread to his family, friends and colleagues. John was in a class by himself, strong willed, determined, dedicated, loyal, loving, hardworking, funny, dynamic, sharp, the list could go on and on. The world most definitely lost an extraordinary man but heaven sure did gain one amazing angel.

We will find some hope in the fact that John can now be with all of us all the time. He will help us through those rough days with positive thoughts. He will be cheering us on in our successes and leading us to see our full potential. He will push us to achieve not only our goals but to remember that there is no such thing as failure just a lesson on how not to do it next time. He will encourage us to remember that each day is another opportunity to exceed your accomplishments from yesterday. He will be steering us to put close family and friends first and to help in any way even if its just telling a joke to bring a smile to their face, reminding us to make time for relaxation, travel, time with loved ones and the things that bring us enjoyment.

John will forever be in our hearts, minds and thoughts.  Although, we will try our hardest to follow in your strong example please be patient with us, your ears may be ringing as we most certainly will be calling on you in these next few years.  Until we meet again.