ZAPATA, TEXAS---Hector J. Gutierrez passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on September 9, 2017 at the age of 91.

Mr. Gutierrez was born in Lopeño, Texas on July 10, 1926 and graduated from Holding Institute in Laredo in 1945. He proudly served his country from 1946 through 1947 in the U. S. Army in Japan with the 21st Infantry Division as a PFC. Upon being honorably discharged he joined the reserves and was called back to service during the Korean War where he served in Korea from 1950 to 1952 as a medic with the 40th Infantry Division attaining the rank of Corporal. After the Korean War he was honorably discharged.

Mr. Gutierrez was a lifelong rancher and cattleman. Between World War II and the Korean War he worked as a cattle inspector for the U. S. Department of Agriculture including a stint on horseback throughout rural Mexico. After Korea, Mr. Gutierrez was employed with the International Boundary and Water Commission for 37 years as a hydrographer assigned to the Falcon Dam Project in the Zapata, Falcon, Lopeño and Laredo areas. He was instrumental in relocating the Old Zapata Cemetery when Old Zapata was inundated by Falcon Lake. Further, Mr. Gutierrez served on the board of the Zapata Water District and participated in the project which extended water utilities to many local ranches.

Mr. Gutierrez was a devoted husband, father, family man and friend. Hector was well liked and known as an honest, reliable, hardworking man. He was a warm and good humored enthusiastic conversationalist who delighted in reminiscing with his coffee buddies and many friends and acquaintances recounting lively stories about his military service, riding horseback in Mexico, politics and old times in and around Zapata. Hector was also an avid reader who enjoyed news, politics and history.

Mr. Gutierrez was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Raquel F. Gutierrez; his parents Narciso and Antonia Gutierrez; his brother Adalberto Gutierrez and sisters Melida and Maria del Refugio Gutierrez. He is survived by his sister, Nilda M. Gutierrez; his children, Hector M. Gutierrez, Priscilla G. (Manuel) Muñoz, Clarissa G. Rodriguez, Jorge A. Gutierrez, and Adriana G. (David) Garcia; his grandchildren Manuel Muñoz, III, Lisa M. (Jeb) Hammett, Adriana Cecilia Garcia, Jorge A. Gutierrez, Jr. Bianca Rodriguez, Gabriela Garcia, and Raymundo Rodriguez, III; and his two great-grandchildren Nathan J. and Andrew J. Hammett. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

The family would like to thank his physician, Luis M. Benavides, M.D., Divinas Manos, Nurses on Wheels and his devoted caretakers Myra, Mickey, Felipa, and Lupe.

Visitation hours were held on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a vigil at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

The funeral procession departed on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 N. US HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.