Monza J. Honga Obituary (1963 - 2009)

Born Sep 25, 1963, Monza J. Honga attended Crawford High School in San Diego, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Monza J. Honga.

Graduation Year	Class of 1981
Date of Birth	Sep 25, 1963
Date of Passing	Jul 10, 2009
About	Deceased 7/10/09 unexpectedly in Peach Springs, AZ. Monza was born 9/25/63, in Kingman. He grew up in Peach Springs and San Diego. He went to Jackson Elementary and 7th grade at Horace Mann. Monza was an associate judge and respected member of the Hualapai Nation. A traditional wake, with an LDS service on July 18, was held in his honor, followed by internment in Peach Springs. Monza was an all-star baseball player in little league and continued his love for sports in high school where he played in several state championship games in basketball, baseball and football. After graduating from Seligman High School in 1981, he continued his education at NAU. NAU didn't suit him and he quit school, working several different jobs until he realized education was important, and applied to Haskell, a Native American Community College in Lawrence, Kansas. After graduating from Haskell in 1986, he took a break from school and moved back to California for a year doing work in construction. While in California, he applied to a college in San Diego, ASU, and the University of Wyoming. He chose the University of Wyoming because they responded first. While in Wyoming, he met Cheryl Anderson and they married Aug. 17, 1989. He worked for forestry while in school until he graduated in 1992 with a degree in Education and Anthropology. Monza then worked as a staff archaeologist for Mariah Associates in Laramie. Later, Monza and his family moved to Kingman in 1994 after a year of teaching at Sierra High School in Colorado Springs. He commuted back and forth between Kingman and Peach Springs, working for the tribe as the education coordinator. In 1995, he became the cultural resource director for the Hualapai Tribe and decided to move to Peach Springs, which is where he lived the later years of his life with his family. During his time as director, he worked with the FAA in preserving the cultural and natural aspects of the Grand Canyon. Also, he made repairs to the BIA boarding school in Valentine. Monza always felt this boarding school needed to be preserved as a reminder of the federal government's assimilation policies toward Native Americans. In addition to serving as cultural resource director, he served one term as a Tribal Council member, school board member, and was currently employed as associate tribal judge. He loved his position as judge, playing golf at Valle Vista, and more importantly his family and friends. Surviving him are his wife, Cheryl Honga; his children, Ray Martinez, Randi, Jade, Raven and Trey Honga, Travis and Brianna Ryan; his mother, Peggy Crozier; brothers, Rikki Massey, Falcon and Waylon Honga; and sisters, Lana Lee and Charmaine Cordova. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Natalie Massey and Charlotte Honga; foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Worthington; foster brother, Brett Worthington; along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. Monza was preceded in death by his father, Benny Honga, and brothers, Raven Honga and Danny Lee Honga Jr.