Louis A Montoya

Louis (“Louie”) A. Montoya, 57, of Santa Fe died on Saturday, September 3, 2016, in a motorcycle accident in Guadalupe County. He was born on April 24, 1959, in Las Vegas, NM to Antonio Montoya and Zoriada Mascarenas-Montoya. Louis was an Army Veteran and a retired Santa Fe Police Officer. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, visiting his grandkids, watching his Pittsburgh Steelers play, hunting, fishing, walking his dog, and taking his bike out on the open road any chance he got to. Louie was humble, gentle, very kind, and a family man. He was always eager and willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need; if it meant being a mentor, getting food for someone holding up a sign, raising money for charities, opening up his home for a place to rest your head, offering the shirt off his back, no matter what it may be he was always helping whoever he could. He joined the Army National Guard when he was about 18 years old. In 1991 he was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm apart of the 720th Transportation unit out of Las Vegas, NM. In 2007 he was deployed to Iraq War apart of the 1116th Wolfpack Transportation out of Santa Fe, NM. In between the wars Louie traveled with the Army to Korea, and Germany. During his time with the Santa Fe Police Department he was assigned to the Patrol Division, then on to the Police Community Relations. He would organize different events to teach and keep the public aware of what Police Officers were there for. He played a huge part in organizing the Citizens Academy, Neighborhood Watch, Junior Police Academy, Car Shows, Shop with a Cop, and +500 other things this unit would take care of. All these different events included him asking for donations from the Santa Fe community to support a cause. Louie retired from the SFPD in May 2015. In retirement, Louis was living life to the fullest and hardly ever home. He was in a pool league called the “TR8TORS”. The tournaments were held in Las Vegas, Santa Fe, and sometimes in Albuquerque, NM. When he wasn’t having pool night he would go to the FOP in SF to get some “practice in” as he would call it. He also was a part of the “505 BAGGERS”. This biker group would hear about a family in need and they would travel together to this event and donate money out of their own pockets. They gave back to the community if someone was in need of help. Louie was also a life-long member of the Morada de Nuestro Padre Jesus in San Ignacio, NM. Louie is preceded in death by his Father Antonio Montoya, Mother Zoriada Mascarenas-Montoya, Brother Joe Montoya, Nephew Andrew Montoya, Nephew Elvin Baca, Brother in-law Persiliano Santillanes, and Brother in-law Si Adamson. He is survived by his daughters, Alisha Padilla(Chris), Marcella Salazar(husband:Samuel), Desirre Herrera(husband:Eric), his son Samuel Montoya(Kristen), grandkids: Julian and Kayla Yara, Felizianna and Francisco Salazar, Eric Herrera Jr, and Elijah Montoya. His brothers: Eddie Montoya(Della), James Montoya(Denise), Alex Montoya(Donna), and his sisters: Adelina Santillanes, Marcella Adamson, Cleo Baca(Tomas), Enedean Romero(Orlando), Mary Baca(George), Debbie Lovato(Gary), Martha Montoya, and many nephews and nieces. Rosary services for Louie Montoya will be held Monday, September 12, 2016 in Santa Fe, NM at Santa Maria De La Paz at 7pm, and Tuesday, September 13, 2016 in Las Vegas, NM at Our Lady of Sorrows at 7pm. Followed by the Funeral Mass on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 in Las Vegas, NM at Our Lady of Sorrows at 9am. The burial will immediately follow in San Ignacio, NM. The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rivera Funeral Home in Santa Fe, NM. Pallbearers: Samuel Montoya, Samuel Salazar, Eric Herrera, Eddie Montoya, James Montoya, and Alex Montoya Honorary pallbearers: Julian Yara, Joseph Santillanes, Angelo Santillanes, Martin Montoya, Juan Antonio Montoya, Ramon Montoya, Jessie Montoya, Orly Romero, Erwin Baca, Julian Baca, Roy Montoya, Jerome Montoya, and Leandro Lovato.