Kayleen Danielle Chavez Montanez, 39, went to be in the arms of her loving Father in Heaven on Oct. 31.
Kayleen was born on Feb. 27, 1978, to Daniel Chavez and Kathleen Horne in Evanston. Kayleen grew up in a loving home with two older brothers, Brandon and Kirby. They spent many summers camping in the Uinta Mountains and playing at Bear Lake (Kayleen’s favorite lake).
After graduating from high school, Kayleen moved to Sheridan, to be close to her dad, and she decided that the medical field best suited her interests. She began working at Sheridan Memorial Hospital in 2001, where she met Luke Mathis. They were married and shortly thereafter had the most precious gift of a daughter, Laina Bleu. Luke and Kayleen later divorced.
Raising Laina Bleu has been the most rewarding and blessed gifts Kayleen has known. Kayleen enjoyed helping others and encouraging people. She enjoyed fishing, swimming, kayaking and playing pool.
Kayleen and her family are members of the First Baptist Church. They have been an incredible support and loving church family. She finished her medical career at the VA Medical Hospital, where she met her current husband, Steve Montanez Jr.
Kayleen will be missed by so many family members and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Steve Montanez, Jr.; daughter, Laina Bleu Chavez; father and stepmother, Daniel Chavez and Karen Martin; mother, Kathleen Horne; brothers, Brandon (Martha) Wilson and Kirby (Adrienne) Wilson; sister, Jessi Steward; aunt, Brenda (Susan) Bateman; uncles Brandon Chavez and Robert (Gloria) Horne; and many more cousins, nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, LeRoy and Alma Fiack; grandmother, Hilva Horne; aunt, Karolyn Overy; and cousins, Bonnie Contreras and Joshua Jakeman.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Citco Federal Credit Union c/o Laina Bleu Chavez, P.O. Box 4067, Sheridan, WY 82801, or to the Elder’s Fund at First Baptist Church, 3179 Big Horn Ave., Sheridan, WY 82801.
A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at First Baptist Church, with Ministers Gary Kopsa and Brad Kremisik officiating.
Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.
