Maria Montoya

Maria Eugenia Garcia Montoya was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico on February 17, 1937 (registered with Mexican archives on March 2, 1937), to Ignacio Garcia and Inez Beltran. Maria is survived by her children: Bruno Jr; Frances; Guadalupe; Arturo; Johnny; Mario, and Isaiah. She is preceded in death by her husband Bruno Montoya from Lytton Springs, Texas and her daughter Mary Magdalena “Maggie” Montoya of Rupert, Idaho.

Maria spent her formative years in Laredo, Texas and later in her youth traveled to Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin with her family as migrant farmworkers. Later, as a young adult her family migrated to west to Oregon, Idaho, and Arizona. In Idaho, Maria met and married Bruno Montoya, a farm labor contractor on October 30, 1955. A few years later, the family moved and settled in Surprise, Arizona, where she lived for 65 years.

During the 1960’s she joined the United Farmworkers Union and in 1969 participated in boycotting local grocery stores selling non-union grapes, attended rallies, and took part in a 4-day march from Tolleson to the state capital. Maria served as a volunteer during Cesar Chavez’s 24-day fast at Santa Rita Hall in Phoenix in 1972.

Years later Maria worked at Phoenix General and Valley View Hospital and Centro Adelante Campesino in Surprise, Arizona.

In 1993, Maria along with a group of local area farmworkers traveled to Delano, California to attend the funeral of Cesar Chavez. Maria was recognized as one of 50 women of the movement in 2007 by the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

Maria was a devout Christian and member of Iglesia Del Valle Asambleas de Dios. She was especially proud of her 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at Iglesia Del Valle Asambleas de Dios, located at 15406 N Greasewood St, Surprise, AZ 85378, on November 19, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The funeral service is scheduled for November 20, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 West Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301.

Following the funeral, a committal service will take place at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6450 W Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on the same day.