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Don Chavez Montoya, 83, a former resident of Grant county and Deming, NM, entered eternal life Saturday December 24, 2005 at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces. He was born June 1, 1922, the oldest son of Tomas and Liugarda (Chavez) Montoya. As a young man Don worked at Kennecott Copper Mines in Hurley. During World War II he served honorably in the Pacific Theater with the Army Air Corps for four years. He availed himself of a college education through the G.I. Bill, earning a B.A. degree from Western New Mexico State Teachers College in Silver City, in 1950. He continued his formal education while working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Keams Canyon, AZ and received a M.A. degree in 1958. He worked at the Phoenix Indian School until 1962 when he moved to France with the Department of Defense Military Dependent Schools where he served as Principal of Toul American Junior High School. Upon his return to the United States in 1964 until his retirement in 1980, he worked for the Veteran's Affairs in Los Angeles, CA and in Albuquerque. In retirement Don lived in Albuquerque and Deming where he continued his affiliation with Toastmaster's International as well as the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veteran's and the Moose. An accomplishment of which he was very proud was spearheading the fund-raising needed for the purchase of vans used to transport veterans to and from medical appointments all over the southwestern part of New Mexico to Albuquerque. He continued to work with young people providing tutoring the STAR Program in Deming. Whenever Possible he encouraged them to seek higher education. In an effort to continue his support of education, Don and Della funded a program at New Mexico State University that pays for tutoring/remediation for reading programs by university students in the College of Education. Before he passed away, Don communicated to his family that he wished it be acknowledged how much he appreciated his family supporting him through his battle with lung cancer for the past 6 months. Mr. Montoya is survived by his wife of 65 years, Della H. Montoya of Las Cruces; one son, Dr. Donald H. Montoya and his wife, Kim of Silver City, NM; one daughter, Betty Jane Burlingame of Las Cruces; and one brother, Tom Montoya of Albuquerque; seven grandchildren: Stephen Montoya and his wife, Tracey of Santa Clarita, CA; Deborah Case and her husband, Allen of Concord, CA, Sean Montoya of Sylmar, CA; Deidre Montoya of Milwaukie, OR; Dominique Montoya of Las Cruces; Jessica Hallwyler of Portland, OR; and Alexander Hallwyler of Las Cruces; six great-grandchildren: Breanna Montoya, Paige Montoya, and Amber Montoya of Santa Clarita, CA, Oliver Perrault of Silver City, Gracie Perrault and Oskar Perrault of Las Cruces. He was preceded in death by his parents; and infant daughter, Mary Montoya in 1950; and his brothers, Reyes and Hermino Montoya and Manuel Quintana. Visitation will be this afternoon from 3-6 p.m. with the Prayer Vigil beginning at 6 p.m. with Deacon Jerry Miller reciting the Holy Rosary. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated Wednesday at noon at Santa Clara Catholic Church with Fr. Robert Becerra Officiating. The Burial will follow at Ft. Bayard National Cemetery with Veteran Honors where he will be laid to rest. Pallbearers will be Stephen, Armando and Lawrence Montoya, Alexander Hallwyler, Zachary Morrish, and Orlando Franco. Arrangements are by Terrazas Funeral Chapels 537-0777.
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