Deacon Jose Jesus "Joe" Gutierez: 1945-2024

Canadian—Deacon José “Joe” Gutierrez, a member of the second Diaconate Class for the Diocese of Amarillo, passed away Nov. 27 at the age of 79.

Mass was celebrated Nov. 30, Father Marco Antonio González, parochial administrator, presiding.

Inurnment took place Dec. 2 at noon in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery.

Joe Gutierrez was born on Nov. 19, 1945 in Santa Rosa, NM, the son of Jose DeJesus and Amalia Urenda Gutiérrez. The family moved to Canadian when Gutiérrez was six-years-old. Gutiérrez attended Canadian Schools, playing football with the Wildcats from 1961 to 1964. He served with the United States Army in Vietnam.

Gutiérrez married the former Carol Chaffin on Dec. 26, 1970 at Sacred Heart Church. On Feb. 3, 1979, he was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Amarillo by then-Bishop Lawrence M. DeFalco. After his ordination to the Permanent Diaconate, Deacon Gutiérrez served at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Amarillo, before being assigned to his hometown parish, Sacred Heart Church, Canadian, where he served until his passing.

According to his family, Deacon Gutiérrez was an avid Canadian Wildcat fan, not missing a game in over 30 years.
“He was passionate about his Wildcats and the kids,” said his wife, Carol.

Deacon Gutiérrez was preceded in death by his parents; three siblings, Donald Gutiérrez, Peter Gutiérrez and Thomas Gutiérrez.

Survivors include his wife, Carol Gutiérrez; three sons, Jose Gutiérrez and John Paul Gutiérrez, both of Canadian and Andrew Gutiérrez of San Antonio; four daughters, Carmen Gutiérrez Coyne and her husband Martin of Mansfield, Teresa Gutiérrez of Euless, Anna Stewart and her husband Chad of Amarillo and Olivia Gutiérrez Miles and her husband Ryan of Lewisville; eight siblings, Dolores Cabrera, Jimmy Gutiérrez, Bobby Gutiérrez, Martha Gutiérrez and Amelia Gutiérrez, all of Amarillo, Julie Gutiérrez of Austin, Simeon Gutiérrez of Lubbock and Francisco Gutiérrez of Bedford; and eight grandchildren, Anais and Jack Coyne, both of Mansfield, Amalia Gutiérrez and Tristan Gutiérrez, both of Euless, Eva Stewart and Ivy Stewart, both of Amarillo and George Miles and Arthur Miles, both of Lewisville.