Tributes

Esther Montoya ended her journey on this earth and was called home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. She was born in Texla, Texas to Santiago and Belen (Luna) Montoya. She was preceded in death by her parents, Santiago and Belen (Luna) Montoya; her siblings Anita, Samuel Montoya, David Montoya, Belen “Willie Mae” Villanueva, Santiago Montoya, Pablo ‘Paul” Montoya, Concepcion “Connie”, Susanna, Ines, and Moses Montoya; and her niece, Patricia Ann Rode. Esther was doing it all her way until the very end! She sought out and created opportunities for herself and then took advantage of every one of them to ensure she lived her best life. She was never content to live how the world thought she should, as a poor Hispanic girl. Esther was feisty and unwilling to accept what she was given. As a young girl, she devoured books as soon as she convinced her brother to teach her to read because she wasn’t in school yet. She jumped at the chance to attend school with her sister, Connie. And ultimately, she was among the first Hispanic women to earn her Master's degree from Sam Houston State University. Esther was fiercely independent, highly intelligent, and beyond glamorous. She loved Her Lord, her family, and friends, and her dogs. She was proud of her career in education and loved children and dogs. Serving first in the elementary classroom and later, caring for infants in her church's nursery during services, nurturing children and animals was a passion for her entire life. Esther lived exactly how she wanted 100% of the time, and she departed exactly how she lived-- on her own terms. She is survived and will be missed by her nephew, Jerry “V” Villanueva, great nephews, James, Charlie, and Joe; her great niece Katrina Lyons, her husband, Matt, and their sons, Aiden and Jack; nephew, Paul Montoya, Jr, and family; and 27 additional nieces and nephews, as well as, 77 additional great nieces and nephews and a few great, great and great, great, great nieces and nephews. Esther will also be terribly missed by her steadfast friends, Sheran Rivette, Mike, and Jenny, and many others in her church family, as well as, all her friends and caregivers at Morningside Manor. SERVICES The Service will begin at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Morningside Chapel at Morningside Manor, 602 Babcock. Interment will follow at Mission Burial Park North.