Monte (or Montejean, which was her full name) was born in Denver, Colorado, where she lived until she was about 12. One experience she remembered about that time period was of her mother as her hero rescuing her from getting in trouble at school because she was left-handed. She was about 5 years old and in a private school. Her parents had told the teacher to allow Monte to write with her left hand. But she still kept getting disciplined by having her knuckles hit with a ruler. So one day her Mother arrived early to pick her up and was standing where she could see her but covered her lips with her finger signaling little Monte to keep quiet. Just then the teacher came over to Montejean and hit her knuckles with the ruler again, while she was writing. Her Mom quickly went in and took her out of there, and told the teacher they would never be coming back, and they never did.

When she wasnt in school she spent weekends and Summers at her grandparents home where they worked as live-in managers of a ranch outside Denver. Grandma did all the cooking and cleaning for the ranch hands, and Grandpa was in charge of the horses and the men. Monte was an only child and there were no other children living at the ranch. So the animals became her "friends." She remembers sitting close by the chicken house where she loved to hear the sound of the little baby chicks. And she had good memories of sneaking out to ride the horses bareback, for which she would get in trouble from Granddaddy. She loved the horses and was never afraid.

In her early teens until adulthood she lived in San Diego because the family moved there after her father joined the Marines and was stationed there. She still liked to ride horses and there was a stable nearby where she could rent horses to ride. Monte also learned to sew at an early age and made many of her own dresses for special occasions. After graduating high school she went to college one year in Denton, Texas at an all girls college. Then transferred back to California attending her last 3 years at Univ of CA at Berkeley where she lived in a Sorority Dorm. She studied for a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and enjoyed Home Economics and Foreign Languages, French and Spanish.

She met her first husband, Bob Booker, an Engineering student there from San Francisco, and they married soon after they met, in their Senior Year. After college her husband took a job in Ohio and they moved to Cincinnati. There they had their first child, Valerie. After a year or two they decided they didn't like it there so they moved back to California where they settled in the Sacramento area where they had their second child, Ivonne.

Monte worked as a homemaker, wife and mother to their two daughters. She was involved with church work and church youth group activities, 4-H, horseback riding, and organizing family get-a-ways which usually involved camping, picnics, or drives to various parks or to visit relatives. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, homemaking, church activities, her pets (cats, dogs, and a horse), and spending time with family and friends.

As the years went by she moved a number of times because of job changes and different family situations, finally landing in Pasco with Bob in 1991 where they remained. There Monte enjoyed growing flowers, music, cooking, entertaining with friends, being with family, and most of all her church family and church work such as serving as Reader and teaching Sunday School.

After her husband, Bob passed away, Monte remarried to Kay Sumpter of Pasco where they originally met as ballroom dance partners. Together they enjoyed dancing as well as camping, hiking, boating and cooking. When Kay passed away, Monte and Wilson found each other about four years ago. Even though it was not a long time she felt that she had known him all her life.

Monte's best times were being with close friends and family, having fun. She will be remembered by many of you in different ways. For me, some things I remember her aside from being a great Mom, is her ability and willingness to offer encouragement. To take action, get involved, and do something constructive. She had a cheerful, positive outlook on life and a deep faith in God and a love of Christian Science. Which sustained her and motivated her throughout her whole life.

There are probably alot of things I could say in memory and tribute to this wonderful person whom I was so fortunate to have as my Mom...I'm sure I will think of them later, after this memorial is over.

So if any one here would like to share something about Monte that they liked or remembered I welcome you to share those memories with all of us now. Feel free to come forward, or stay where you are and speak when you're ready.

Otherwise, enjoy the pictures, some snacks, the music, and each other while we remember Montejean.