Judith Arlene Gutierrez

Judith Arlene Gutierrez, 83 years old, wife of Ramon "Ray" Gutierrez, left this earth to be with our Lord on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 after leaving Desert Valley Hospital and temporarily residing at Sierra Vista Assisted Living in Victorville.

Judith was born on July 23rd in the year of our Lord 1939 in Youngstown, Ohio and was the daughter of the late Carl and Arlene Kurtz. Judie graduated Liberty High School in Youngstown,Ohio. She married Ray in 1959 and they moved to Southern California in 1964. She became co owner of R&J Equipment Rental with her husband, Ray in 1978. In 1982, the name of the company changed to Gutierrez Construction Company and she ran the office until the business's closing in 2015. In her leisure time Judie loved to play Bingo .

Judith is survived by her husband Ray Gutierrez of Hesperia, CA. Her son, Rick Gutierrez of Hesperia, CA, her son Ron Gutierrez of Hemet, CA, her grandson Nicolas Gutierrez of Yucaipa, CA, and four great grandchildren Chase, Austin, C.J. and Ruby. She is also survived by her brother, Rudy Kurtz of Pahrump, NV, her sister LuAnne Lawrence of Neosho, MO, her niece Lori Yambar of Kingsley, MI, her niece Stephanie Copus of Oxnard, CA, her niece Rachel Lawrence of Neosho, MO, her niece Jaclyn Wehrer of Las Vegas, NV, her nephew Rudy Kurtz III of Las Vegas, NV, as well as four great nieces and three great nephews.

Judith was preceded in death by her sister, Diane Butterfield and half brother, William Dunn.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE OBITUARY WRITER

I would like to take a moment to let everyone know that, Judie was a lover of life, and the she fought a very good fight to enjoy that life until the end. Her health was on a steady decline ever since she contracted colon cancer in early 2019. After having surgery to remove the cancer in late 2019, she recovered really well except that it left her with blood clots and atrial fibrillation of the heart. Along with her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, she was constantly struggling to regain her health. Despite the COVID pandemic, Judie did really well through 2020 and 2021 but, in March of 2022 she had an exasperated COPD attack along with a mild infarction. After going into the hospital to be treated, she came home COVID positive. The congestion never seemed to subside after that. The next attack came in October 2022 and then of course, the most recent one the first week of January 2023. The last year was tough but Judie never gave up until the very end when the struggle to breath just became to much for her to bear. In the last couple of weeks of her life, Judie asked God to not prolong her suffering any longer and God was merciful by answering her prayers letting her pass on in peace. The reason I mention these things is because , although Judie went through all of this, she always remained the kind hearted person she always was. She touched many peoples lives and never found fault in anyone. Her genuine heart-felt laugh could brighten anyone's day. Judie loved ALL of her family and was the catalyst that held it together.

She loved the simple things in life. This planet will be a lesser place without her. I love you Mom and I will miss you beyond words..

Your Son, Rick