Carmen K. Longoria
Jan 12, 1930 -
Jan 22, 2020
Carmen K. Longoria was born on Jan. 12, 1930, in Sanger, Calif., to Domingo Montes and Evarista Losano Montes. On Jan. 22, 2020, just after her 90th birthday, her failing heart could no longer support her energetic spirit and she passed away in Anchorage, Alaska. Her family was able to say goodbye and she received her Catholic rites before being lifted to heaven above. There is not a day that goes by without her family missing her.
She left indelible marks during her youth in her hometown, Merced, Calif., and later in life through community work in Anchorage. In Merced, she organized with sisters, Anna and Jeanne Montes, to form the Young Catholic Girls (YCG). The group organized many dances that featured musicians, including Pedro Infante, a popular celebrity from Mexico. Carmen's involvement in the YCG brought together softball teams, that during 1947, offered great entertainment after the end of World War II. The YCG often played in McNamara Park with other teams, including Capital Red Sox, Moose Lodge, Modern Maids, Pepsi Cola Girls and Bear Creek.
While still going to school, she found her first job at 15 years of age at the Serv-U Drugstore, where seven years later, she met the love of her life, Lionel Longoria. Lionel was stationed at Castle Air Force Base. She married Lionel, left Merced and began her new adventures as a military wife. Lionel's first assignment was to Arizona, followed by Okinawa, and eventually to Anchorage in 1961.
In Anchorage, and not wasting any time after her children were mostly grown, her and Lionel found camaraderie with fellow Mexican Americans to establish Anchorage's League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Hispanic Alaskans (HA). During her time with LULAC and HA she met dignitaries which included Congressman Bill Richardson of New Mexico and political activist Jesse Jackson. These organizations would later support Alaskn dignitaries such as former Governor Bill Sheffield and Senator Frank Murkowski.
In later years, after Lionel passed away, her enthusiasm led her to volunteer efforts at the Anchorage Senior Center. There, she spent countless hours working with friends Sandy, Pauline, Martina and Mary at the Center's Social Hour. RSVP was another favorite volunteer venue, where she found fellow Alaskans giving and sharing. She spent her last three years living at the Anchorage Pioneer Home, where she enjoyed meeting new friends.
Carmen is preceded in death by her father, Domingo Montes; mother, Evarista Losano Montes; husband, Lionel; son, Terry Joe; sisters, Aurora "Dora" Montes Garcia, Vera Losano Flores, Della Montes Gastelum and Anna Montes Sanchez; brothers, Carlitos Montes and Jesse Montes; uncle, Manuel Losano Garcia; and her comrade, Mrs. Amperedo "Ann" Morrison.
She is survived by: her one and only favorite daughter, Carrie D. Longoria (Jim Worthington) of Anchorage; sons, Mickey (Deanna) of North Pole, and Dino (Lori Hamblin) of Anchorage; sister, Jeanne Jones of Clovis, Calif.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren of North Pole, Jacob (Victoria with children Tazlina, Elias and Mckenzie), Dylan, Garrett (Karly with baby Liam and Angelica) and Derek; goddaughter, Binnie Garcia Carroll in Merced; godson, John Arnold Morrison in Anchorage; extended Dixon family, Melanie in Anchorage and Jennie in Arizona; and many nieces, nephews and cousins in California, Oregon, Wisconsin and Texas. She gives thanks to all nurses (Lori), certified nurse assistants, activity coordinators and housekeeping staff at the Anchorage Pioneer Home. She will be buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery with her husband, Lionel. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the future at the Anchorage Senior Center.
