Pete Esteban Montano

PETE ESTEBAN MONTAO Funeral Mass for longtime Cortez resident Pete Esteban Montao will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 2 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Reverend Pat Valdez, C.R. will officiate. Visitation has been scheduled for Friday evening at 6 p.m. at the church. A Rosary Service will begin at 7 p.m. Pete Esteban Montao was born on November 29, 1929 in Canjilon, N.M. He returned to the Lord on April 29, 2015. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Pedro and Beatriz; one infant son, Timothy; and his siblings, Melquiades, Teresa, Corina, Inomia, Jose, Arturo, and Fabian. He is survived by Frances, his wife of 62 years; his children, Pete Jr. (Laurel), Peggy Montano (Thomas Cochran), Lillian Bayles (Randee), Shirley Rocha (Noe'), and Sylvia Trujillo (Wesley); and by 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. At the age of 12 Pete began working at a sheep camp near Lone Cone with his father and brothers. He loved telling stories about herding sheep, animal encounters, the Calvario, and the penitentes that influenced his deep faith. His love of that area continued his entire life, Miramonte reservoir was his favorite fishing spot. Pete provided for his family as a truck driver, small business owner, and a hoistman for Union Carbide. He proudly would say he never had an accident in his gas transport truck on old McElmo Canyon Road. After many, many years of hard work he retired in Cortez. In his well deserved retirement years he and Frances enjoyed many trips in his RV, fishing and meeting fishing buddies along the way. He took great pride and pleasure with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. After any family gathering he would always say "it was a good day." The family would like to thank Guardian Angel Home Care and Vista Grande for their compassionate care of Pete. While we will miss him greatly, we find great comfort that he is at peace in the arms of his family and our Savior Jesus Christ. Memorial contributions may be made in Pete Montao's memory to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church to benefit the church grounds.