December 25, 1960 - February 20, 2023
Julie Diane Montes was born in Stockton California on Christmas Day in 1960 to Ted and Irma Montes, who were told that their baby had been born with Down’s syndrome. The doctor told them they would not be able to provide the care she would need, but that doctor did not know who he was talking to. Ted and Irma kept their precious Julie and raised her in a home that was full of love with three older sisters and two older brothers. Julie was a tiny little thing, and they all called her “Doll” for the first few years after she was born.
Julie began her education at Washington School, which was Stockton’s first school for special-needs children. From there she attended Harrison School, where she participated in Girl Scouts and Special Olympics events. She graduated from Harrison in 1982. Julie participated in Catechism classes for the developmentally disabled, provided by Sister Madeline Hanot and received the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.
A week after graduating from Harrison, Julie began attending the Day Program at the San Joaquin County Activity Center. There she performed in plays and musical productions that were a joint collaboration between the San Joaquin County Activity Center and the Stockton Civic Center. She was always part of the dance chorus, which she loved. She enjoyed creating arts and crafts that were sold at the annual Activity Center’s craft fairs. Her family made it their mission to hunt down and purchase every item she had made. She learned how to square dance and perform on Western Day and at other events. Julie always looked forward to playing Count Dracula for the Activity Center’s annual haunted house and loved lying in the coffin and scaring those who dared to enter.
Julie enjoyed going on the Center’s many community outings; especially bowling, Frappe-Friday trips, community dances and luncheons, or going anywhere that she could purchase chips and cookies. She loved singing karaoke, and Madonna was her go-to artist. She was a champion at the Television Theme Song game or any musical trivia game. She knew every single song. When the Activity Center had dances, she would be the first one on the floor and the last one to leave.
Julie loved setting everything up for the daily snack at the Activity Center. She took pride in placing the napkins with the “goody of the day;” and when she was finished, she would say, “Come and get it!” She was probably quoting Aunt Bea from the Andy Griffith Show because she spent a lot of time with the Griffiths.
Julie loved talking to the Activity Center’s staff members about their lives and knew the names of all their spouses and children; and in turn, she loved sharing with them everything about her own family. There were many times new staff members would ask about Julie’s son Jimmy, her daughter Marissa, or her husband, John Stewart, not knowing that Jimmy was actually Julie’s nephew she called her son, Marissa was her niece she called her daughter, and John Stewart was a mystery man she called her husband. Several years ago Julie started saying her name was “Donna,” and whenever anyone called her “Julie,” she would say, “My name is Donna.” When the family planned to fly to visit relatives in Oklahoma, her brother told her she had to say her name was Julie or they wouldn’t let her go on the plane. When he asked her, “What’s your name,” she smiled and said in a low voice, “Julie Montes.” She was Julie until she got back home, and then she was Donna again.
Julie also participated in the Good Shepherd Ministry Program at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and enjoyed spending time with her friends outside the program and participating in the annual Christmas pageant. She also loved the holiday gatherings and was so happy when her magician costume won the best costume award. She recently celebrated Valentine’s Day with her church friends.
At home, Julie loved watching TV shows (Andy Griffith, Everybody Loves Raymond, Sanford and Son, Gilligan’s Island) and knew everybody’s names in the shows. She loved watching the Godzilla and King Kongmovies and did great impressions of them both. Her favorite pastime on Saturdays was listening to the TopForty Songs from the 70s as she sang along to them and could remember which songs were from which yearand who sang them. She was so smart. She loved playing the guitar while singing Happy Birthday to her family members. Sometimes she’d want to do a toast, and she would thank everyone for coming after saying everyone’s name. She loved saying the prayer at family gatherings, which could tend to go on and on and on, and end with everyone saying “Amen”, followed by her saying “Amen.”
Julie’s nightly routine always ended with her opening her bedroom window blinds and waving at the house next to her as she said goodnight to Bob and Pam who had been her neighbors for most of her life. Julie was a blessing to her family and everyone who knew her. Our family will never be the same without her. She will always be loved and missed dearly but will continue to bring us smiles and laughter when we remember and talk about things she said or did over the years.
Julie was preceded in death by her sister Theresa Hawkins, her mother Irma Montes, and her father Ted Montes, who are waiting for her with open arms in Heaven. She leaves behind two brothers and sisters-in-law, Theodore Montes (Violet) and Rick Montes (Jenifer); two sisters and a brother-in-law, Laura Dabell (Lou) and Darlene Renner; multiple nieces (Kelly Dabell, Leslie Renner, Samantha McMickin, Jennifer Renner, Jennifer Laurence, Krista Haxby, Chloe Bright) and nephews (Eric Renner, James Dabell, Rick Montes, Adam Montes, Aaron McMickin, Christopher Laurence, Brian Laurence, Gary Haxby, Nick Montes, Noah Bright) and numerous Great nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind two aunts (Ida Bush and Liz Lopez), and many cousins in the Lopez, Wallace, Hernandez, and Martinez families. The family would also like to acknowledge their Aunt Liz’s sister, Ginny Pelton, for all the kindness she showed to Julie and for all the assistance she is giving with the planning of Julie’s services and reception.
VISITATION
A visitation will be held from 4:00pm - 7:00pm with a rosary starting at 6:00pm on Tuesday, February 28th 2023 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
SERVICE
A service will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 at the Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240. followed by the laying of Julie to rest in Cherokee Memorial Cemetery.
Charitable donations in memory of Julie can be made to the Alan Short Developmental Disability Service Organization (ddso.org), St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (standrewsstockton.org), or a charity of your choice.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Montes family.