Obituary of Guillermo "Bill" Montero

July 7, 1960 - October 7, 2024

It is with great sadness that the Montero family announce Guillermo “Bill” Montero passed away unexpectedly on October 7, 2024 in Cleburne, Texas at the age of 64.

Bill was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1960 to Jorge Carlos Montero and Marta Arteche Montero. At the age of 6, he moved with his parents and sister Silvana to Laval in Quebec, Canada. There he went to elementary-middle school, and through most of his high school years. He learned to ride bikes and horses, play hockey and ski. Guillermo always enjoyed the outdoors and spent most of his free time playing with the neighbor boys and his sisters - with the arrival of the youngest, Veronica - in the pool, at the lake, on the snow and showing horses alongside Silvana.

In 1976, his family settled in Dallas, Texas where he then graduated from The Greenhill School, before earning a B.B.A. in Business from Austin College. His college days were filled with many friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Their crazy antics and legendary pool parties fill our memories along with his challenges of having survived cancer at a young age.

Bill loved to travel, especially if it was a beach destination where he enjoyed scuba diving, photographing fish and coral with his underwater camera, and simply floating on the waves. On the beaches in Uruguay, he could be found playing sand games with his cousins and in Brazil he could be found rescuing his little middle sister from enormous ocean waves. His world travels led to culinary experimentation and an appetite for cultural cuisine that made eating with Bill a spicy adventure.

He worked for many years in the corporate offices of the family owned Burger King franchise before ultimately becoming a successful franchisee himself. In 2012, Bill left the franchise world behind to fulfill his lifelong dream of owning and operating a horse boarding/ lesson facility named Southern Sun Farm, in Cleburne, Texas. There he spent his days working with horses, goofing off with boarders and lesson kids, and bonding with his Great Danes.
 

Bill married Stephanie Anne O’Brien in 1993 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Ft. Worth, Texas, having met in 1992 on “the worst blind date ever.” Their daughter Anna Maria Montero was born in 1995. Bill was a dedicated and loving son, brother, husband, and a beloved father to Anna Maria as well as “barn dad” to many. He loved nothing more than spending time with his daughter and her friends, making memories with their beloved horses.

He is preceded in death by his father, Jorge Carlos Montero, and is survived by his mother Marta, his sisters Silvana and Veronica; his wife Stephanie and his daughter Anna Maria.

Guillermo walked through life with gentle big strength.

He will forever be carried in our hearts.

Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Thompson’s Harveson & Cole in Fort Worth, Texas. Those who desire are welcome to join the family at 10:00am in the Chapel for a brief prayer service.  Following the prayer service, all are invited to the Drawing Room to continue honoring Bill's life at a reception from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

For those that prefer options in lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in his memory to one of the following: 

Bill believed in the healing value of horses. Wings of Hope Equitherapy provides equine assisted services for children and adults with unique physical, mental, and emotional challenges.    www.wingsofhopeequitherapy.org/donate

Bill survived cancer as a college student, thanks to treatment at MD Anderson.  Camp Star Trails at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Center is a camp for children with cancer and blood disorders.    gifts.mdanderson.org/

Bill also found great comfort and adventure though scuba diving and any time he could spend in water. Stay-Focused offers a unique, transformational learning experience to teens and adults with disabilities.     stay-focused.org/donate/