Evangelina "Eva" Urias Gutierrez

Our mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, Evangelina Urias Gutierrez, 86, of Crane Texas, passed away the evening of June 6, 2025. “In her bed, in her room, in her house.” Something that was repeated to her, lovingly reminding her, she was safe and surrounded by loved ones.

Evangelina, known to many as Eva, was born in Buenavista, Mexico on October 19, 1938 to Joaquin and Manuela Urias. Though she attended school only a few years, she was able to learn how to read and write. When asked how she learned to speak English, she would say, “by watching soap operas.”

Eva was married to Apolonio Gutierrez on December 25, 1957; they were married for 67 years. Stories mom and dad shared with us made it obvious that it was “love at first sight” and the rest is history.

She worked from home as a seamstress, as well as cleaning houses around town for many years, before she acquired a job at Crane Elementary School as a custodian alongside her husband Pole. Eva was actively involved in the Catholic Church as a Cursillista, Eucharistic Minister, Guadalupana, a member of the Legion of Mary, and the Comunidad de Vasas. She held weekly prayer meetings and daily bible studies, and helped clean the church. As a Deacon’s wife she would often be called out with Pole to pray with people in need.

Eva enjoyed tending to her beautiful rose bushes, fruit trees, and many plants, she also spent time in her backyard where she loved raising cockatiels, lovebirds, and parakeets. Most of all she was known for the love she had for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her strong faith in the Lord was apparent in the way she generously, and willingly helped those she saw were in need.

She struggled with dementia for a very long time, and as she started to lose her memory one thing remained constant, and that was her love of the Lord.

She is preceded in death by her two daughters Socorro and Yolanda Gutierrez, her husband Apolonio Gutierrez, her parents Joaquin and Manuela Urias, and her siblings Lalo Urias and Aida Casillas.

Eva is survived by her brother Florentino Urias, as well as her five children, sons Leroy Gutierrez with wife Anabel, and Gary Gutierrez, daughters Sandy Jimenez with husband Albert, Velma Perez with husband Carlos, and Kathy Bacon with husband Tommy. Lastly her 22 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

The rosary will be at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, June 10th, at Nichols Funeral Home, and the funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, June 11th at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Mass will be officiated by Father Kumar, and the burial will follow at the Crane Memorial Cemetery.

There will also be a reception after the burial at the 6th Street Community Building. Thanks to all who donated food and to Shelly Garcia for the use of the building. Many thanks to Father Kumar, and those serving in the mass, as well as leading the rosary. Lastly, the family would like to thank Nichols Funeral Home for all of their help in giving Eva a loving goodbye.