Mickie Montano

Mickie Montano lost her fight with Parkinson’s on Saturday August 15^th.  Mickie was born in McPhee, Colorado on December 9^th 1940 to Frank and Esther Montano. She was the 6^th of the nine children in her family.  Mickie grew up and spent most of her adulthood in Ouray, Colorado where she married Leo Garcia and raised her three children Elena, Philip and Stephanie. She later divorced Leo and took life head on by herself.

Mickie was always a very hard working lady usually holding two jobs at once.  She was an iconic fixture at the Longbranch saloon for many years.  She kept the beer flowing and the glasses full even when the crowds were backed up out the door.  After moving to Montrose in 1979 to get out of the snowy winters in Ouray, Mickie was the head cook at both the Cameo restaurant and the Starvin Arvin’s restaurant.  However, her favorite job was working at C.B. Liquor where she was able to be the social butterfly.  She loved to visit with and talk to everyone that came in the door.  Everyone loved Mickie.  After her retirement she was able to donate her time to the Montrose Food Bank where she would help those in need and still visit with everyone.

Mickie is survived by her son Philip Garcia of Montrose and her daughter Stephanie Tolvo and husband Chris of Montrose, and son in-law Robert Burton of Montrose.  She also has three grandsons (Michael, Taylor and Philip) and one great grandson (Michael) all of Montrose.  Mickie was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Esther and daughter Elena Burton.

There will be a viewing Thursday August 20, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. with a funeral mass to follow at 10:00 am at St. Daniels Church in Ouray, Colorado. Interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Ouray, Colorado. Arrangements are under the care of Crippin Funeral Home and Grand View Cemetery.