Marco Antonio Montes Jr., age 53, of Canyon, Texas, passed away on Dec. 12, 2023, in Amarillo,Texas.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2023, at Trinity Worship Center with Rev. Ronnie Shoffner officiating.
Burial will immediately follow in Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Marco was born in Pueblo, Colo. on Aug. 26, 1970, to Rita Phyllis Montes and Marco Montes Sr. Marco entered in the United States Marine Corp right out of high school. He was deployed overseas to fight in Operation Desert Storm. He was awarded the National Defense Service Metal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Humanitarian Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, two Good Conduct Medals, Rifle Marksmanship Badge and two Letters of Appreciation from President George H.W. Bush Sr. In 1991, he helped to aide in the evacuation of the Filipino people from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. One proud accomplishment was shaking the hand of President George H.W. Bush and getting a, “Thank you, you have done a great job, son.” Marco become the head of RV technicians at Jack Sisemore RV Traveland. He married Michelle Salazar on Nov. 1, 2003.
Marco loved the outdoors, from snow sledding at home in Colorado to fishing. He was amazing at playing cards, pool and darts. He enjoyed assembling models as a hobby. He was an accomplished auto and RV mechanic. He was a gifted gun and knife specialist. He loved football games, concerts and spending time with his family.
Marco was preceded in death by his mother, Rita Phyllis Montes, and father, Marco A. Montes Sr.
He is survived by daughters April Carpenters and Arianna Willy, both of Childress, Texas; grandson Martin Rodriguez III, of Childress; sister Kristy Murillo and husband Jesus, of McAllen, Texas; nephews Ryan Murillo, Jesse Murillo and Caleb Murillo, all of McAllen; and three great-nephews.
The family would like to give a big thank you to all the nurses and caregivers who took care of Marco at Sky-West Assisted Living. They become like family, and they are appreciated for everything they did.
