LOUIS "LOU" "LOUIE" MONTOYA

Lou (Louie) was born in Gallup, New Mexico, and his family moved to Wheatland, Wyoming when he was 2 years old in 1928. His family worked as hired labor on farms, and then became Tenant Farmers. They lived on several farms in the Wheatland area. As his brothers were drafted and volunteered for WWII, Lou stayed back to work on the farm and support his parents and eight siblings not in the military. After the war, he fell in love with Mary Lou Rodriguez, and they were married on November 26, 1949. As a young married couple, Lou and Mary Lou continued to live on the farm, but decided they needed steadier work, so they moved to town. Lou worked on the Colorado and Southern Railroad as a Gandy Dancer (a track maintainer) between Wheatland and Chugwater, Wyoming, then got a job at Sports Tire Shop, and then was hired-away by the Wheatland COOP Association (now Frenchman Valley COOP). Lou worked at the COOP over 40 years, and did every job at the COOP. He worked himself up the chain from fixing flat tires to managing the whole operation for a number of years.

The family believes he loved working at the COOP so much because it kept him close to farming. Other than his family, ‘farming and growing things’ were his loves, so working at the COOP kept him close to that love of his life. Along the way, Lou made hundreds of friends as he was known for serving his customers. As one customer told Lou’s daughter, when he was growing up and had to go to the COOP for supplies, his dad always told him to ask for ‘Louie’ because ‘Louie’ would always help, ‘Louie’ knew where everything could be found, and ‘Louie’ could fix anything.” But ‘Louie’ was known for more than helping customers at the COOP, he would help customers who lived out in the country as well. There were countless times late at night that the phone would ring with a customer calling saying they ran out of propane or their heater quit working. Without fail, Lou would head to the COOP station, get the tools or parts needed, or get into the propane truck and drive miles to help the farmer/rancher. That kind of service was common for Lou. On one occasion recently, a customer saw Lou’s daughter at the store and asked how ‘Louie’ was doing. Then he said that he really appreciated ‘Louie’ when Lou worked at the COOP because Lou “kept his house warm in the winter.” Whether it was delivering propane after hours or going out in the middle of the night to fix a heater, Lou’s service to the farmers, ranchers, and anyone who lived out-of-town was constant and unwavering.

Lou and Mary Lou had two daughters -- Cynthia and Christine. Both Lou and Mary Lou were adamant that their daughters receive a college education. Both Cindy and Cris graduated from the University of Wyoming with Bachelor Degrees in Education, both taught at the elementary-school level, and both retired from teaching after many years in the classroom. Lou was particularly proud that his daughters received college education, as he had to quit school after the 8th grade to work on the family farm. Lou was very moved when his grandson, Andrew, in naming his daughter, gave her the middle name of “Montoya” to continue the family name into the next generation. Mary Lou preceded Lou in death as she passed in May 29, 2022. Lou is survived by their two daughters, Cynthia Montoya Desautel (Jim) and Christine Montoya Horkan (Dan); five grandchildren, Ryan Desautel of Woodbridge, VA, Andrew Desautel of

Woodstock, Georgia, Joshua McKay of Castle Rock, Colorado, Cody Horkan of Casper, Wyoming, and Kelly Horkan of Casper; and eight great grandchildren, Ainsley McKay, Ella McKay, Eleanor Montoya Desautel, Kyle Stapp, Jaxen Wages, Liam Wages, Dalton Horkan, and Baylor Horkan.

Anytime you would see Lou, he was probably wearing a hat. He loved wearing a hat. If he wasn’t wearing a hat, he kind of felt undressed. If you feel comfortable doing so, we invite you to wear a hat to the reception following the Funeral Mass (it would be inappropriate to wear a hat during the Mass). So, after the Mass ends and you head downstairs for the reception, feel free to put your hat on, sort of a way to say farewell to our beloved father and Papa.

Funeral liturgy for Lou Montoya, will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wheatland, Wyoming with Father Hiep Nguyen as the Celebrant. The Vigil for the Deceased will at 7:00 P.M. on Friday, August 18, 2023 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church. 

Gorman Funeral Homes - Platte Chapel is in charge of the services.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.gormanfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LOUIS "LOU" "LOUIE" MONTOYA, please visit our floral store.