MARY MONTOYA

1932 - 2025

MARY H. MONTOYA

July 20, 1932 – Aug. 24, 2025

Our beloved mom, Mary H. Montoya, passed away peacefully in her home on August 24, 2025, with her beloved son, Randy at her bed side. She was born to Tiofilo & Victoria Higuera on July 20, 1932.

Mary demonstrated remarkable strength, she was courageous, strong, resilient, hard-working and had a wry sense of humor. She worked at Palms Theatre, seasonal sorter in the packing sheds, translator in the courts, Desert collections & Foothills Bible Book Store,

When Mary accepted Jesus as her Lord & Savior, she embraced teaching children about Jesus and they loved her m&m and chocolate chip cookies. She also held Bible studies in her home & blessed the adults with her apple or cherry pies. She was chief cook at Camp-Do-Right for many wonderful years and put us all to work serving both God and the children. She was devoted to Jesus, family and friends. She was our strongest cheer-leader. She blessed us with her wisdom, helped us with our challenges, celebrated in our joys and victories, listened, guided and told us the truth no matter what. She loved playing and caring for her grandchildren. She enjoyed taking them to the park to play & feed the ducks.

She is survived by her brother, Miguel Higuera, and his wife, Yolonda; sister, Isabel Flores; daughter, Lucy Allen; son, J. Randy Montoya; grandchildren, Marco Medina, Ricky Montoya, Roseann Meding, Vanessa Montoya, David Montoya, Jasmin Martin, and Becky Montoya; great- grandchildren, Michael, Azaleah, Jadyn, Rick, Bradyn, Bailey, Riley & Hayden.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Cosme Montoya; parents, Tiofilo and Victoria Higuera; sisters, Emma Higuera, and Rachel Powers; son, Richard Montoya; grandson, Steven Medina; brothers-in-law, Flores and Bill Powers; son-in-law, Gordon Allen.

We invite all who knew her to celebrate her life. A memorial will be held on October 9, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hems Mortuary, in El Centro. Service will commence on October 10, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Imperial Community Church. Internment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Calexico. Gathering for lunch to follow at Christ Community Church, 522 W. Orange in El Centro.