Manuel "Carlos" Montoya

Manuel "Carlos" Montoya, age 65, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 5th, 2018, in Albuquerque, NM. He was born in Santa Fe, NM on January 23, 1953 to Manuel and Martha Montoya (Apodaca). He is survived by his wife, Carrie Montoya, his son Nathan Montoya (Eileen), his daughter Francheska Grogan (Ryan), his daughter Alyxandria "Gabby" Montoya, stepsons Jeremy and Joel Histia, and stepdaughters Miranda Histia and Alicia Haughton. He had five grandchildren: Carolynn, Eleanor, Tatum, Asher, and Wrigley Grogan. Additionally, he is survived by his sisters, Patricia Pitel (Mike), and Florence "Flo" Golightly (Russ), as well as his brothers Tom, Pete, Fred, and Sam Montoya. He is also missed by his furbabies, Louie, Latifah and Lola. And pretty sure that Amazon stock is going to take a dive!
Carlos was a man of many faces and talents. He was raised on a ranch and the responsibilities of this set the tone for the rest of his life. He spoke often of the good memories he had in Santa Fe while growing up. Although he left the ranch life behind, he found a way to bring a small remnant of it back in the last few years by purchasing backyard chickens for his wife, Carrie. He became an artist and it showed in everything he did. He enjoyed woodworking and was a master carver creating beautiful Santa Fe style furniture, and sold custom pieces for many years when he lived in Denver. His cooking was THE best! He and his wife Carrie owned a restaurant for a couple years called Carlitos on 10th and Coal SW in Albuquerque and was voted the Best Undiscovered Restaurant by the Alibi in 2003. He could make anything, from phenomenal New Mexican cuisine to gourmet meals that rivaled that of any famous chef, to simple leftover creations, and he did it "in a jiffy," to coin a phrase he learned from his mother. He enjoyed gardening and was especially proud of his backyard paradise and his many roses. He was an exceptional salesperson, selling anything from vehicles to menus and most recently was a Bud Tender working part time at a medical marijuana dispensary. Referring to himself as an "old hippie," and in semi-retirement, he really enjoyed working in the cannabis field at High Desert Relief. He had a passion for fishing, especially trout, and loved going to Jemez and Pecos to fish the rivers and lakes. He also loved to read, even more than fishing. He devoured books, non-fiction being his favorite, and thought Kindle was the world's greatest invention. He loved music of all genres, and always had something playing around the house, dancing while he worked or cooked. He dressed impeccably and could pull off a style that no one else could. He dabbled in the movie industry as an extra, was trying to learn the guitar, watched movies, collected old cameras and any unique item he found in a thrift shop and was always looking for the perfect rock for his garden. He was generous to a fault, incredibly intelligent, and had a heart of gold. Carlos would tell you his greatest accomplishment or gift was the love he had for his family. He loved his children with every fiber of his being. He had an impact on everyone he met and will be missed beyond measure.
Carlos requested to be cremated, and a private reception will be held for immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, Carlos would request that you donate money to the charity of your choice.