Joe was born in Oxnard, California and was a 1987 graduate of Rio Mesa High School. He was a graduate of the 1996 LAPD Academy and worked for the Los Angeles Police Department for 8 years. Joe moved to the Chattanooga area in 2005 and graduated from the 2007 Chattanooga Police Department Academy. He has served with the Chattanooga Police Department for the last 12 years. Joe was a National Forensic Academy graduate, (IAI) International Association for Identification, certified Crime Scene Investigator. He was a longtime member of Abba’s House in Hixson and was a beloved baseball coach.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joe M. Montijo.
Joe is survived by his wife of 23 years, Alicia Jeffrey Montijo; children, Jenna Montijo Bishop (Hunter) and Anthony Joseph “AJ” Montijo; mother, Reyneria Reyes Montijo; sisters, Lillian Marie Montijo Munoz (Pete), Corrinne Lorraine Covarrubias (Daniel) and Yvonne Paula Calzada (George); five nieces and nephews, Peter and Frank Munoz, Dolly Contreras (Will), Jessica Howery (Jason) and Bobby Myer (Danelle).
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 pm and 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday, November 6 at Abba’s House, 5208 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343.
A Celebration of Joe’s Life will be held at 1 pm on Thursday, November 7, at Abba’s House. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens with MPO Greg Mardis, MPO Tray McGhee, Inv. Jerry McElroy, Inv. Lee Salyers, Sgt. David Franklin, Lt. Heather Williams, Inv. Ken Burnette, Inv. Joshua Curtis, Inv. Kendra Randolph, CST Kristen Booker, CST Caileen Adamson, CST Michelle Johnson, ET Steve Poole and ET Mike Pettross serving as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.
The Joe Montijo Legacy Fund has been set up to benefit his children’s college fund and the Sale Creek baseball program. Donations can be given at www.abbashouse.com/give or by mail at Joe Montijo Legacy Fund c/o Abba’s House, 5208 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
