Arsenio Regino Montez

Arsenio Regino Montez

                Arsenio R. Montez (Archie) passed on April 21, 2021, at age 99, to join his loving wife Marina in heaven who preceded him on October 10, 1999.  Archie was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on September 7, 1921.  He was also predeceased by his grandfather Alejandro Montes y Vigil and grandmother Francesquita Montes y Vigil; by his father Roberto Montez and mother Aurelia C. De Baca Montez; brothers Ralph Montes, Ramon Montez, Jose Montez and Robert Montez Jr.; sisters Sylvia Candelaria and Consuelo Gonzales and grandson Ralph Christian Montez.  Arsenio is survived by his sister Alice Baca of Las Vegas, Nevada and his children Ralph M. Montez (Rachel), Marie Antoinette Miller (Michael), Helen Louise Montez (Humberto Robles) and Sharon Rose Wilson (Reece).   He leaves behind several beautiful grandchildren: Maria Ximena Montez Coss (James), Claudine Miller, (Roy Gallegos), Marissa Pilar Montez, Greg Wilson (Andrea), Gabriel Wilson (Michelle Armijo) and Ariana Montez; and great grandchildren Violetta Helene Salazar, Christian Rafael “Buster” Salazar, Alex Wilson, Marina Wilson and Pilar Coss all of whom loved him dearly as he did them.  Arsenio traced his heritage in New Mexico directly to Spain.  His great ancestor Francisco Montes Vigil arrived in the New World in 1665.  Arsenio served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from January 16, 1941 through June 30, 1941.  Arsenio was inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States on November 11, 1942 and was Honorably Discharged on February 22, 1946.  During his service to our country Arsenio was trained at Fort Bliss, Texas and served at MacDill Airforce Base in Florida.  The bulk of his time in the Army Air Corps was served at Bangor Air Force Base in Presque Isle, Maine.  He was joined by Marina in Presque Isle, when the camp commander, who was a native of Albuquerque, took a liking to him and encouraged him to bring Marina to Presque Isle, where the commander gave Marina employment at the PX.  During their years in Presque Isle, Arsenio and Marina would travel on weekends to Portland, Maine and on occasions to Boston.  Arsenio and Marina returned to New Mexico after his service in the Armed Forces.  He and his wife spent many happy years raising their children in the home they built on Montez St. in Santa Fe.  He worked at the Star Lumber Company from about 1948 until about 1982, when he retired. In 1970 he and Marina built a new home on 16 acres in La Puebla where they enjoyed farming and their retirement for many years.  They were proud of their bountiful gardens.  “Archie”, as he was known to many, was a handsome, wonderful, honest, generous, hard working gentle man having dislike of no one, nor exhibiting any ill traits.  He was never known to utter a profanity.  If he had one vice, it was his sweet tooth.  You could always find a box of chocolates during the Christmas season in the back of his car and several candy bars in the glove compartment. He always signed his Christmas and Birthday cards with, “Archie from La Puebla.” He exhibited a happy smile, especially when seeing his grandchildren and great grandchildren and when presented with a pie, especially if it was lemon meringue or pumpkin.  He loved his most recent companion of 19 years, “Buffy the Cat.”  He never spoke ill of anyone and you could never find anyone who disliked him.  He valued his Catholicism and often joined in praying the Rosary and going to Mass with Marina. He was courageous, making a life for himself after Marina died in 1999, despite the fact that he missed her intensely and was barely able to cope with her passing.  You could always find him with a photo of Marina in the breast pocket of his shirt, which he showed to everyone.  We are comforted by the fact that our father lived a long life, but we will miss him greatly.  Rosary will be held at Rivera Family Funerals at 417 East Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87505, on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 6pm.  Visitation will be from 5pm to 6pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church located

at 417 Agua Fria Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501.  Internment will be at 12:45 pm at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on May 5, 2021.  Serving as pallbearers will be Rey (Todder) Montez, Tony Gonzales, James Coss, Gabe Wilson, Greg Wilson and Alex Wilson.  Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Many thanks to his caregivers Luz Morales and Azulema Rivas and to all the caregivers and personnel at Brookdale Senior Living and Ambercare Hospice. Please abide by Covid-19 precautions and wear a mask to all gatherings.