Mikelle A. Bryant-Mataya

Mikelle Angela Bryant was born on February 9, 1948 in Denver, Colorado. Her parents were Marcellus Bryant and Georgiana Mance. Mikelle was the fifth of six children: Marcellus, Georgianna, Marye, Edward, and Cherry. Her name “Mikelle Angela” was a variation of the name Michael Angelo – the great artist after whom her mother was going to name her anticipated son! The unique name was befitting, as Mikelle was one of kind. Throughout her life, Mikelle was called “Angie” by many of her family and friends. 

Angie was a small child, but she was known for being a speedy runner despite being noticeably bowed-legged. As a teen, she developed an interest in singing and in high school, she, her best friend Delilah “Dee” Rios, and her sister Cherry formed a singing group - “The Playgirls.” The group recorded and performed locally, but eventually dissolved. Angie and Dee, however, remained friends for life. After graduation from East High School in 1966, Angie headed to a vocational school in Kansas City, Missouri. True to form, she made another close friend, Wanda Woods, and they, too, maintained a friendship for life. Angie returned to Denver and married her high school sweetheart, Samuel Montez II, in December 1968. In May 1969, she gave birth to her only child, Christina Linn.

Angie was a stay-at-home mom for a short time, and then she joined the workforce. Her professional dream was to open a daycare, as she loved children. But, economics and the end of her first marriage in the ‘70s led her into the information technology field. In those years, she worked two to three jobs to make ends meet and to save to become a homeowner. She wanted a house in which to raise her daughter. There wasn’t a lot of free time, but with her seemingly endless store of energy, Angie made time to be a Girl Scout leader to spend quality time with Christina and her friends and schoolmates. In her Volkswagon van, she took the Scouts on many adventures!

In the eighties, she landed a job with the Colorado State Department of Health where she worked with Debbie English. Angie, Debbie and her son Aaron, and Christina enjoyed many good times together, and the single moms delivered an unbelievable gift: a dream vacation to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida! In the nineties, she transitioned to Qwest Communications where she worked for many years. During that time, she also volunteered for Junior Achievement. Angie decided to return to college, and she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and Sociology from Metropolitan State University. Most importantly, at Qwest, she met Harry Anthony Mataya, and her life had a new beginning: they married in 1997. Their partnership was unmatched. In each other, they found energy, enthusiasm, and deep love. 

Mikelle – as Harry preferred to call her - and Tony – as she preferred to call him – “lived large” in terms of the love they shared with family, friends, fellow church members, their community, and even strangers. Together, they completed training at the Heritage Christian Center Institute of Ministry and the Institute of Bible Studies at Love Christian Fellowship. They served in the Prison Ministry and at the Colorado State Veterans Home. But, the number one recipients of their love from 1999 on were their four grandchildren. Angie poured her time and energy into Natalia, Raquel, Shawn Andrew, and Veronica. “Gram,” as they referred to her, was ALWAYS there: to pick up from school; to visit the Museum of Nature and Science; to listen and applaud for every recital and performance; to celebrate every birthday with cake and balloons; and to make every holiday special with gifts and cards. She showered them with the same unconditional love, support, and guidance she gave Christina every day of her life. Somehow, she found time to write. She self-published five books for children and three biographies. 

Angie’s final professional role was Certified Nursing Assistant, a designation she earned after a reduction in force at Qwest. She shared her new skills, her bright spirit, and guitar-playing to care for people with traumatic brain injuries and residents in assisted living. She also served as Tony’s caregiver as he suffered from Parkinson’s disease in the last five years of his life. 

Angie’s vivacity came naturally, but she also made a point of it. She defined her life’s purpose two-fold: to love God with all heart, mind, and soul, and to love her neighbor as herself. From the beginning, her life was not easy, but she had an indomitable spirit to her last hour. She had unwavering faith in God and she never gave up.