Marcus L Gutierrez

Marcus Ann Langston Gutierrez, age 80, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, after a brief but very courageous battle with cancer. From her birth to her death, Marcus nourished countless people around her with love, faith, art, and poetry. She was born on November 25, 1936 in Mont Belvieu, Texas to Marcus Lee and Lillian Gertrude (Polk) Langston. After graduating from Barbers Hill High School, Marcus attended Baylor University, where she double majored in Art and Elementary Education, graduating in 1958. Following her college graduation, she moved to Houston and began a very rewarding and inspiring career as an elementary school teacher with the Spring Branch Independent School District. She taught for many years, imparting many extraordinary gifts to her students. She had a wonderful talent for helping children find their distinct voice and gifts. She would spend countless hours developing her own creative curriculum to differentiate for each student, maximizing their growth and potential. Marcus loved her years teaching and the many seeds of hope and inspiration sown in each child that she encountered is a beautiful, far-reaching legacy.

In her personal life, Marcus was a devoted wife, mother, and friend. She married her loving husband, Florencio Gutierrez Jr., in 1969, enjoying forty-eight years of marriage. They shared many happy years together and enjoyed traveling, cultural excursions, sunrise coffee dates, and raising their one child, Olivia Lee Pelech. Marcus was such a lovely and dedicated mother to her daughter. She instilled a love of nature, art and Christian faith throughout her motherhood journey. She also enjoyed a sweet relationship with her son-in-law, Russell Lee Pelech. They were very close and loved discussing archeology, classical music and art together. Her most recent season as a grandmother to her one grandchild, Madeline Lee Pelech, was one of the happiest highlights of her life. They shared many hours singing, snuggling, reading together, and creating fanciful art projects and fairy houses in the garden. Those many pockets of joyous family time sustained her, especially as she fought valiantly during her months of cancer treatment. In addition to spending quality time with friends and family, Marcus was an avid reader, loved studying the bible and biblical archeology, and pursued many artistic endeavors, including writing poetry and calligraphy.

Marcus is survived by her husband and child, as well as her sister, Jo-Helen Baxley and her nephews, John Marcus Baxley and Gavin Baxley. She is preceded in death by her parents, Marcus Lee and Gertrude Langston.

A visitation and luncheon for friends and family will be held Thursday, November 2nd at 12:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery, with a burial to follow in the cemetery.

The family would like to thank all of the many personal caregivers and medical professionals at Memorial Hermann Hospital, Cornerstone Hospital, and Encompass Hospice, for the care and dignity bestowed on Marcus. The family is especially grateful for the many prayers and well-wishes from dear friends and the wonderful staff at West University Baptist Church.