|
Mary Montes (de Leon) died peacefully early Friday morning September 18 surrounded by her children and family members by her bedside.
Maria de Leon was born on June 2, 1926 in Ojai, Calfiornia. She was eight out of nine children of the de Leon family. Her father Ventura de Leon was born in the state of Jalisco, Mexico and her mother Dolores de Leon was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. They both crossed the Rio Grande River in 1909 fleeing the start of the Mexican Revolution and eventually settled in Ojai, California. The de Leon family then moved to Santa Paula in the 1930’s during the depression, where Mary’s children live.
She loved music and played the piano and guitar. She was also an avid art lover who painted and dabbled in ceramics. She influenced her children and gave them a strong music and art foundation. Mary enjoyed watching sports such as tennis, basketball and baseball especially when Fernando Valenzuela played. She took many trips to Los Angeles to see the Dodgers play. Playing tennis, reading and gardening were among her favorite pass times. She took pride in tending her fruit trees and various colorful flowers at her home.
She is preceded in death by sons Vincent and Ricky Montes, and her beloved husband, Vicente Montes, once owner and founder of Vince’s Cafe well-known for its chili verde.
Mary Montes is survived by her children Lola Mendez (Manuel Mendez), Xavier Montes (Vanessa Acosta), Alicia “Licha” Montes (Robert Reyes), Victor Montes and David Montes (Yvonne Montes). She will be greatly missed by her beloved 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.
Services are to be held at Santa Paula Cemetery gravesite at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 25.
