Janis Schumpert Obituary

Obituary Janis Vivian Montgomery Schumpert

Jan Schumpert passed away in Raton, NM on August 10, 2025. Janis Vivian Montgomery Schumpert was born to W.E. “Bill” and Bernice Montgomery on April 6, 1947 in Whittier, CA. Her brother, Joe Bill, was born a few years later and the family relocated to Fort Sumner, NM where she graduated from high school in 1965.

Jan graduated from ENMU in Portales in 1969. She married Bill Schumpert in August 1967. They shared three daughters: Kate, Kary, and Kelly, and despite their divorce they remained friendly and enjoyed many years of shared family memories.

After living in Albuquerque, and the Phoenix and Denver areas, Jan returned to eastern New Mexico, settling in Melrose to be closer to family. She ran Schumpert Grocery for a few years before returning to Eastern to earn her teaching certificate and started teaching at Springer High School, 1987 to 1998. She married Vincent Montoya in 1989 and following their divorce, they also stayed friends. After eleven more years teaching and being the librarian at Raton High School, she retired in 2009. Jan enjoyed teaching family and consumer sciences, being the librarian, and sponsoring FHA/HERO and FCCLA. She giggled and recalled adventures shared with her friends, student shenanigans, and many conferences.

Jan was an active member of the United Methodist Church for most of her life and was always busy as a member of the United Methodist Women (UMW) and various church committees. She loved her years in retirement and filled her calendar with Retired Teachers, the Raton Library Board, Friends of the Library, Master Gardeners, exercise and walking groups, and countless other organizations. She could be counted on to volunteer for community events and looked forward to the Colfax County Fair and other events each year. Spending time with friends and family was always a favorite of Jan’s.

Jan had a passion for travel, enjoying family camping trips in her old green VW van and later cross-country road trips in her various red vehicles. Jan recently reached a lifelong dream, checking off her 50th state, North Carolina, on a trip in the fall of 2024. In retirement, she loved taking cruises and trips with friends and family.

Jan loved Eastern Star and was active in chapters in Raton and Trinidad. She looked forward to the annual trips around New Mexico for Grand Chapter and counted trips to national Grand Chapters as some of her favorite memories.

She is survived by her brother Joe (Charlotte) of Melrose, NM; three daughters, Kate (Stan) Schiffelbein of Colorado Springs, Kary Schumpert of Longmont, CO, Kelly Schumpert of Longmont, CO; three grandchildren, Will (Krystal) Schiffelbein of Colorado Springs, Ben Schiffelbein of Washington, DC, and Abby (TJ) Germain of Del Rio, TX, and four great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Madeline, Graham, and Casper.

Services took place in Raton and Melrose, NM.