Jose M. Gutierrez

Jose Maria Gutierrez was born in Houston, Texas. His parents Simon and Guadalupe, had 13 children in total, of which six perished. Jose was their youngest son and is survived by sisters Guadalupe, Lorenza, and Alicia. Raised in the Magnolia Park area of East Houston, he was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and graduated from Milby High School. After high school, he proudly served in the US Army, where he ranked Specialist 4. He was stationed at Isthmus of Panama, supporting military logistics and communications. The military experience provided an opportunity to travel and lay the groundwork for a career with the US Postal Service. He served the North Shore neighborhood during his tenure as a mail carrier. He proudly walked, not drove, his route; even in the sweltering summer! Jose made a point of knowing the people on this route. In the late 1980s, he retired and celebrated this milestone with family, coworkers, and the people he served. Compassion, integrity, and personal responsibility are values that he possessed and that directed his life choices.

In the late 1970s he purchased property in the Texas Hill Country with plans to move after retirement. He kept that promise to himself and, one he made to his Mother—caring for his three sisters. Soon after he retired the family left Houston for Uvalde.

Silver Creek Ranch is where he thrived in spirit and ingenuity to create working devices for tractors, water pumps, and house repairs. At first, he enjoyed the yearly deer hunt. Eventually, he began to feed the deer year-round. Some would see him and run down the mountain for hand feeding! Once he made this connection with deer, he no longer hunted. However, he enjoyed sharing the opportunity and sport with his nephews. Jose made many friends in the new community, volunteered for County events, and was hired by ranchers to clear land. His day started at 5:45 am, and chores were done by noon. He enjoyed riding the tractor, which was almost a daily routine, after feeding the deer and feral cats. He transplanted several flowers to the ranch that his Mother and sister Herminia nurtured in Houston. Just before sundown, he walked the property to water those plants and gardens. While he loved Silver Creek Ranch, he once said, “I might have chosen Southern New Mexico for retirement if I had visited here earlier in life.” He never wanted to return to Houston. He was happy at Silver Creek Ranch. He died peacefully at his ranch home.