Margaret Montes
MARGARET MONTES
On Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, Margaret Montes passed away peacefully at the age of 94 in Auburn, California.
Margaret Ovidia Lee Montes was born on the 25th of May 1929 in Grant Township, Wisconsin to Arthur and Florence Lee. She was raised in the small town of Colfax, Wisconsin alongside her three brothers, Gardie, Erling, and Aaron. In her youth, she spent quality time with her family, ice-skating during the winter months, and enjoyed the regular company of her closest friends. She would go on to graduate from Colfax High School in 1948.
In 1950, she traveled to Auburn, CA to visit her uncle – Orrin Ellingson – who operated a local dairy. It was upon this trip that she met Howard B. Mehl of Loomis. The two married in 1951 and had two sons, James (1952) and Steven (1954). The two eventually divorced, with Margaret remarrying Victor C. Montes of Loomis in 1959 and having a son, David, in 1960. Margaret and Victor continued to reside in Loomis and remained happily married until Victor’s passing in 2017.
Throughout her life, Margaret graced those around her with her kind spirit, infectious smile, and exceptional sense of humor. Family was the centerpiece of her life; she enjoyed pouring into her grandchildren’s lives and provided unwavering and eager support wherever possible. She possessed a hospitable and welcoming spirit, adhering to an open-door policy for anyone who needed a place to stay or simply the presence of good company. In addition to the time spent with family, Margaret regularly volunteered at the Sacramento Blood Bank in Loomis. She never failed to put other’s needs above her own, and always – above all else – treated everyone with a rare sense of fairness, patience, and genuine kindness.
Margaret is survived by her three children James Mehl (Ruth), Steven Mehl (Debbie), and David Montes (Lynn), four grandchildren, Hillary Mehl, Heather Mehl (Matt), Spencer Montes (Sophia) and Payton Montes and three great grandchildren, Matilda Meding, Berne Hamilton, and Hazel Hamilton.