A Funeral Mass for Arnold Tony Montemayor, age 87, of Fayetteville, TN will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, April 11, 2025, at St. Athony’s Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. George Panthananickal officiating. There will be no visitation prior to the funeral mass.
A life celebration will be held at 6 PM on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Market Center Park (13631 Eureka Road, Southgate, MI 48195). Visitation with the family will be from 4 PM until the time of service at 6 PM. Private inurnment will take place at St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights, MI.
Survivors include his children, Pam (Mark) Browning of Fayetteville, TN, Michelle Vincent Montemayor of Ypsilanti, MI, Arnie Montemayor, Jr. of Grosse Ile, MI, and Timothy (Christine) Montemayor of Gibraltar, MI; grandchildren, Megan (Jonathan) Clark, Mallory (Josh) Adams, Gracie (fiancé Braden Simms) Browning; Noel (Chris) Brannan, Jared Vincent, Allisyn (Jaccob) Snow, Madison Moceri, and Jessica Montemayor; great-grandchildren, Jasper Clark, Landry Adams, Peyton Adams, Emma Brannan, Nicholas Brannan, Jack Brannan, Bella Brannan, Noah Brannan, and Cole Brannan, Mila Vincent, Luccas Snow, and Nellie Snow; his siblings, Cecilia Segura, Rose (Rich) Molloy, Carlota (Peter) Herrera, Anna (Dutch) Hopper, and Teresa (Dan) Larason; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Arnold was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio Gonzales Montemayor and Anita Lopez Montemayor; mother of his children, Beverly Sanchez Montemayor; and a brother, Thomas Montemayor.
A final message from Monte: “I passed away on April 3rd and I decided to write my own obituary! Save my kids and relatives the trouble! I’ll try to keep it short. If not, just remember, it’s the last time you’ll hear from me.
I was born on January 1st 1938 in San Benito, Texas. As a young man I was always very proud to be from Texas! But I decided later that the State of Texas had brainwashed me into thinking I was something special. Because when I got out into the Real World (outside of Texas) being from Texas meant absolutely nothing. Which brought me a great source of frustration.
I was raised Catholic and stayed faithful until I became a young man. Somewhere along my journey I lost my religion and my faith. But you know I really wanted to believe that there was some supreme being watching over us! I just could not feel it! Don’t get me wrong, if someone asked me for prayers I would pray for them. I never forgot the prayers I learned as a child. With me praying for that person, I really believed that if there was a God, he would know that my prayers were honest and worthy, because he would know my heart. Yes, I know it sounds odd. But that’s how my brain worked. I do believe I was a spiritual person and tried my best to live a good life, working hard, doing my best, doing the right thing, trying to be nice, and staying out of trouble.
I enjoyed good music and good company! I loved riding/racing dirt bikes. Whitewater rafting was always a thrill. I became a decent snow skier and windsurfer, mountain biker, and even roller bladed. Switched from gin & tonic to vodka & tonic and now I drink mostly Pinot Noir wine. I was always a “meat and tater” type of guy! But I learned to enjoy other food as well.
I did have some strong dislikes including mean people, hypocrites (especially the holier-than-thou types)
Although I gave up my Dodge Charger for a full size van! (my wife was dead set on a station wagon) I loved it. The family did a lot of camping and a lot of traveling in those vans.
To all my Facebook friends; I appreciate you putting up with my attempt at humor and occasional rant over the years. I was always up for a good debate and appreciated well-reasoned discussion. I always favored policies that encouraged prosperity for the middle class. I do have a special request for my Republican friends: Please turn off Fox News.
I want to thank all the great folks I met in my years working at Ford Motor Company! From my Tool & Diemaker years spent at the Rouge Complex (Engine, Frame and Tool & Die Plants) to my years in salary at Body & Assembly as a Dimensional Control Engineer. I learned to really appreciate the people who stepped up and made a positive difference in my life! One thing I learned early was to do your job with pride and honor. So that when that job is finished you know that it was done right. Your name is on it. And I did my best to avoid all the whiners and complainers. I learned the difference between a good boss and a bad boss. Fortunately, I had more good bosses than bad but those few bad ones were a royal pain. But my motto became, “No one can discipline you for doing a good job” I spent almost 43 years at Ford. I really learned a lot and came to appreciate this quote, “lead, follow or get out of the way”. Whatever path you choose, let it be a positive one.
There are all sorts of tricky ways nature can get you and no one is immune or immortal. As that great thinker Anonymous said, “never regret growing old, it’s a privilege denied to many”.
I love my two daughters and my two boys! I am so proud of them. I tried my best to teach them about life, before they were on their own. Always know that each of you has great things to look forward to. Trust your instincts, have lots of fun, take some risks and don’t spend too much time at work. My one regret is that I worked too many seven-day weeks, mostly 10 to 12 hour shifts. That’s one reason I had to get away from the Tool & Die plant!
I want my children to know that it was hard for me to divorce their mother but I just couldn’t stay any longer. It wasn’t meant to be. I truly believe that I grew as a man and became a better person after my divorce.
For those of you whom I’ve offended or wronged at some point, I apologize. For those that may have a fond memory of something nice I did, please pay it forward.
I’m not quite sure what will come next. Perhaps this is it. Perhaps there is an afterlife where I may see some of you again. Perhaps I’ll come back in a different form and get another chance at this. That would be pretty cool. Whatever happens, it’s been a wonderful life. I hope every one of you makes the most of every single minute you have left on this planet.
All in all I had a lived an interesting Good Life! Regrets, for sure! But I didn’t do too bad for being a poor kid from South Texas! Adios.”
