By Moses Leos III.
Ask anyone who knew 17-year-old Gaby Montoya, and they’ll tell you they never saw her frown. To friends and family, Gaby’s personality was effervescent – contagious to those around her.
“Happy, go lucky,” as described by her mother, Carrie Montoya.
“She wanted people around; she wanted to have fun and be with people,” Gaby’s father, Richard Montoya said. “And treat people like you would want to be treated.”
She also was a determined spirit, according to her parents. A natural athlete in softball and volleyball, Gaby also aspired to be a model and a fashion designer. She was also the diffuser, ending disagreements between her friends.
At top, Lehman High junior Angel Cruz (center) and many others prepare to release balloons during a memorial for 17-year-old Gaby Montoya on Sunday at Gregg Clarke Park in Kyle. Here, an unknown woman passes by a bouquet of flowers presented to the family of Gaby Montoya by the Boerne Champion softball team prior to Friday’s Lehman High softball game. (Photos by Moses Leos III) |
But all along, she did one thing – kept fighting, no matter what.
“She’s always a fighter,” Carrie said. “If you tell her she can’t do it, she’ll prove you wrong in an amazing way.”
Her infectious personality was the reason hundreds went to Gaby’s side following a car accident that seriously injured her. It is also why many more attended a balloon release at Gregg Clarke Park on Sunday to remember the teen gone too soon.
Gaby and her boyfriend and his family were returning from a trip to Fiesta Texas on March 22.
According to a report by the Austin-American Statesman, the Chevy Impala the group rode in collided with an SUV, which was at a complete stop in heavy traffic.
Gaby suffered serious head trauma and was rushed to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. She spent six days on life support.
On Friday, Carrie and Richard made the difficult decision to pull her off life support. The accident and Gaby’s subsequent death rocked the community to its core. At the same time, it strengthened its resolve.
Carrie said it started when family friend Melanie Lopez created a GoFundMe page during Gaby’s fight in the ICU.
To date, the fund has raised $10,195.00.
Even upon her death, support continued to trickle in. Boerne Champion’s softball team presented a floral arrangement prior to Friday’s game at Lobo Field.
Students created other ways to honor their classmate, including buttons.
Senior JR Torres, who was friends with Gaby since middle school, spearheaded the initiative for the balloon release.
“I thought about doing something; she was a close friend of mine,” Torres said. “I wanted to get everyone together to show her family that she was loved.”
Rallying around the Montoya family was Art and Martha Aguilar, owners of Mardy’s Shaved Ice on Burleson Street. Parents of a Lehman senior, the Aguilars were moved by their daughters’ grief for Gaby. They spearheaded a fundraiser on Sunday, where 100 percent profit went to the Montoyas.
By the time they arrived at the shop at 10 a.m. Sunday, a line was already stretched around the block.
“People came and they purchased (snow cones), but then they gave a little more,” Art said.
People soon moved to Gregg Clarke Park, with balloons in tow, some fancy and ornate, others simple, with messages written on them.
Sharing stories of Gaby happened all afternoon. Lehman assistant varsity volleyball and head junior varsity coach Gloria Sandoval remembered first seeing Gaby as a tall, but “goofy” freshman.
Jessica Gonzales of Austin first met Gaby when Carrie was part of the Metz Elementary PTA. Since then, their families grew up together. She said she’d remember Gaby’s exuberant personality.
“If I could put her name in lights, it would be a lot of lights,” she said. “More than in New York.”
