Carlos Nelson Montoya Jr., born February 21, 1966, succumbed to a long illness on March 20, 2024. Carlos, known to his friends as “Stern,” was born in Houston, TX, the first child of the late Carlos Nelson Montoya, Sr., and Susan Smith. Montoya was well known for his quick-witted sense of humor and vivid imagination. The avid sports fan who grew up in Albany, Louisiana, had a love for the New Orleans Saints and developed another love for the San Francisco Giants after moving to the bay area in the mid ’80’s. During his free time, it was a safe bet to find Carlos at an 8-ball tournament. A lifelong animal lover, Carlos had various pets over the decades and spent the last fourteen years of his life with his beloved Pitbull pup, Noodle.
Carlos is preceded in death by his father, Carlos Sr.; his paternal grandparents, Carlos Montoya Ciririaco and Margarita Montoya (nee Villarrel); maternal grandparents, Thomas Edward Smith, Sr. and Marjorie Rose Smith (nee Hamilton); uncle, Thomas Edward Smith Jr.; cousins, Christopher Smith and Margaret Denise Smith; brotherin- law, Eric B. Morrison; and lone nephew, Eric Morrison.
He is survived by his mother, Susan E. Smith; beloved sister, Claudia Bommarito (nee Montoya), and brotherin- law, Robert Bommarito; sister, Cammie Morrison (nee Hazlewood); brother, Thomas Hazlewood; nieces, Suzanna Poche (nee Morrison) (Jonathan), Jillian Bommarito, Shelby Bommarito, and Sydney Bommarito; grand-niece, Daisy Poche; grand-nephew, Cypress Poche; aunts, Donna Smith Murphy (Tom), Karen Smith Gebbs (Don – deceased); cousins, Chris Cook Wozniak, Kimberly Cook Lenoci, Jeffery Cook, Janelle Smith Eveld, Eric Wanless, Kurt Gebbs, Lauren Gebbs Lewis, and Brian Gebbs; and of course, Noodle.