Jacob Montoya

Jacob Thomas Montoya, 66, of Beeville, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. Mr. Montoya was born July 29, 1945, in Durango Colo., to Maria Tafoya and Jose Thomas Montoya. He served in the U.S. Army and received a master's degree from Texas A&I University-Kingsville. He married Esther Guerrero in Beeville on Dec. 5, 1970, and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the VFW. He was retired Army and Navy and a member of the National Guard. He was employed by the Beeville Police Department for several years and the Karnes County Sheriff's and Refugio Police Departments. He was also employed as a security officer for NAS Chase Field. His last duty was with the Wackenhut Correctional Unit in Karnes County. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Leo Montoya; and a brother-in-law, Raymond Garcia. Survivors include his wife, Esther Montoya of Beeville; a daughter, Kris Montoya of San Antonio; two grandchildren, Dezirey Montoya and Vicente Jay Barrera III; five sisters, Rachel (Henry) Padilla of Colorado Springs, Colo., Elizabeth Garcia of Denver, Colo., Cathy Espinosa of Salida, Colo., Ruth "Connie" Browing of Georgia and Geraldine (Ed) BelMonte of Fresno, Calif.; and three brothers, Tony Montoya, Leo Montoya and Danny Montoya, all of Olympia, Wash. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Angelus Funeral Home. A rosary will be recited there that evening at 7 o'clock. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Richard Gonzales officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Coastal Bend Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi. Pallbearers will be Robert Guerrero, Adrian Guerrero, Vicente Barrera Jr. and the Bee County Honor Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be Baldemar C. Guerrero and Carlos Guerrero Jr. Angelus Funeral Home