Gerard Gutierrez Obituary

Gerard Gutierrez obituary - June 16, 1963 - October 20, 2024
Gerard Gutierrez, 61, passed away on Sunday, October 20, 2024. Please take a moment and share a kind thought or memory with Gerard's family at www.andersonbethany.com.
There will be a Viewing on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
"I'll treasure every moment I had fishing with him and will always remember Fondz Ponds." Gerard Gutierrez' niece, Niobi Gallindo remembers her uncle's love. "He was the best Tio ever."
Gerard was a fisherman, and sometimes he caught a fish. Sometimes the fish got away. He was also a fisherman of hearts, and those didn't want to get away. His kindness, and his caring ways earned him a place in every heart he touched.
Born in Roswell, June 16, 1963, Gerard was five when his family moved to Alamogordo. He and his brothers and sisters went to school there.
"He would always be there for you," Rosemary remembers. "But he'd tell it like it was. He didn't hold anything back. He worked at the cafeteria at the school. I'd wait for him after school and we'd wait for mom and dad. I took care of the younger children and he played with them."
When Gerard was 14, he moved to Roswell with his mother. He left school to work at ranches and the harvests. His last farm laborer job was with Graves Farms, South of Roswell.
Over the years, he worked as a cook at the New Mexico Military Institute. He was a cook at the JOY Center, and a maintenance man at National 9 Inn.
The last few years, Gerard worked in the kitchen at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center. His boss, Abdul Rashad, and his wife became friends of Gerard's. For his last birthday they gave him a big tackle box, which he treasured.
Gerard's mother, Priscilla Vargas, said his coworkers have been calling. "They've been so kind," She said. "I'm so grateful for them all."
Sunday morning, October 20, as Gerard was driving to work at the hospital, his vehicle died. Just South of the corner of College and Garden, he decided to get out and walk to get help. Sadly, the flash flood that was engulfing Chaves County swept him away. His body was found near the Roswell Zoo.
His dog, Lucky, looks outside a lot, hoping to see him walk back in the house. "They walked down to Cielo Grande almost every day," Rosemary said. "At the bank, Lucky got treats from the tellers. He took her to Cahoon Park earlier in October for the blessing of the animals."
His niece, Elizabeth Gallindo remembers enjoying music with Gerard. "We shared a love of music," She said. "He was the type who hushed someone to listen to The Doors. We saw Korn and Marilyn Manson in concert. He jammed out, head bangin' in his own little mosh pit."
"He had a sarcastic sense of humor," She said. "If he was upset he'd let you know, play it out, and then he'd be good again. He never hid his feelings. He was real. He was a damn good uncle. He was a good person.
Gerard loved to hunt almost as much as he loved fishing. He had plans to join his brother and friends in Brownfield later this year, for a bow hunt. When he was a boy, his father took him shooting, and when he felt Gerard was old enough, he sent his son to a Hunter's Safety course. Gerard was proud to earn that certificate.
Gerard was a man of generous spirit. He kept his mother supplied with bird seeds so she could continue to feed the birds in her yard. He bought chicken feed for Rosemary's chickens often too. When his mother's refrigerator broke down, he bought her a new one. He was always ready to help his family and friends.
"He loved to go to Sam's Club for a slice of pizza and a blue slurpee," Rosemary said. "I think it'll be a while before I can go back there without him. He was going to church at St. Peters on his days off with me and mom."
Rosemary said he would wake up every morning and say, "I'm thankful to the man upstairs for being here today." No doubt he'd said that last Sunday morning. Quite a few people were grateful he was here too.
Gerard had numerous nieces and nephews and great nephews and nieces. He had a son and daughter-in-law and one grandson.
The family of Gerard would like to thank Eric De Los Santos friend and coworker and all the other employees that worked with him and were so wonderful to him. He was so happy working in the kitchen at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center.