Stephen Paul Gutierrez

Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 17, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waco.

A visitation will be 6 to 7 p.m., Monday, January 16, with a Rosary service starting at 7 p.m. at Connally/Compton Funeral Directors in Waco.

Stephen Gutierrez was born July 20, 1954, in Waco, Texas to Paul and Rose Gutierrez.

He attended Waco schools and was a high school graduate of University High School in 1973 and a graduate of McLennan Community College in Waco TX and North Texas University in Denton TX.

Stephen was never married but was loved and remembered by family and friends. To his family, nieces, nephew, and brother he was always known as “Uncle Steve”. Each Christmas he was known as Santa Cowboy because he always wore bright Christmas colors along with his favorite cowboy hat. He always had a special gift for Christmas – even if some were gag joke gifts and Stephen was known for cooking up some good BBQ Chicken or a Christmas ham! Afterwards he was known to relax by having one of his nieces give him the tradition shoulder and back rub!

Stephen had many friends and co-workers who recognized him from working several years at Cavender’s Boot City and Richie’s Western Wear in Waco. He sold a lot of western wear from hats, boots, shirts to belt buckles. He worked several other jobs such as the Waco Shoe Hospital and Montoya Shoe Service. After retirement, he was regularly seen on the weekends selling items at the local flea market in Waco. In the early years, Stephen loved to draw, dance, and spend time in the outdoors. He never passed up an opportunity to spend time with family such as cousins and friends fishing at Lake Waco, Brazos River or any country pond or stock tank. He loved to repair fishing reels, tools, equipment and tinker with odds and ins. He was known as a very good dancer and though maybe it was self-acclaimed, it was said that his dance partners enjoyed dancing with him too! Stephen kept to himself – but, he was surely a good son, brother, uncle and friend.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his brother, Stanley Gutierrez of Waco; nieces Christy Denise Sais and husband Arturo, of Waco, Candace Marie Gutierrez, and fiancée Jose Pena of Houston; great-nephews Arturo Sais III and Jared King Sais of Waco.

Stephen was loved his family, friends and was loved by Ms. Chloe the family chihuahua. Steve you will be greatly missed.

Pallbearers: Cornelio Bravo, Jr., Angel Bravo, Carlos Bravo, Jr., Patrick Mayes, Arturo Sais, Jr., and Arturo Sais, III.