Ramon Delfin Gutierrez

Ramon Gutierrez, 81, passed away on February 16, 2023.  He was born on March 20, 1941 to Jose Trivino and Pablita Valdez Gutierrez in LaJara, New Mexico.  He loved working in the outdoors.  From his early years in New Mexico, he shared many stories of ranch life at that time, plowing with horses, driving wagons to town, hauling water, building fence lines, breaking horses, herding sheep, then cattle, and planting and harvesting the food that sustained them.  Later in life he moved to Southwest Washington where he became a skilled logger.  He operated his own company, Custom Logging of Olympia, for many years.  When his doctor told him that it was time to live his life dream, he bought a ranch where he bred fine quarter horses, beef cattle, and, as his health became more fragile, chickens and a couple of turkeys. This man loved working with animals.

He was a man of faith who volunteered to work with our local church as a children’s Sunday school teacher at both the kindergarten and junior high level.  He was the leader of the Wednesday night Awana program.  When problems or unexpected turns would shake our lives, he would assure us that it was all in God’s hands.  When Mount St. Helen’s erupted devastating our logging business equipment and knocking down entire forests.  He took the equipment home, completely disassembled it, cleaned all the parts, and put it back together ready to go again.  He thanked God for saving him all the time and labor of falling all those trees.  While Ramon did volunteer at church, he preferred to express his spirituality with acts of kindness to his neighbors outside of any religious institution.  His preferred chapel were the hills and forests.  His life and witness would draw people to God.

He married Lanette Legacie on March 28, 1970, in Olympia, Washington.  They met when she moved to New Mexico to teach at the school where he was also employed.  He was preceded in death by two of his daughters Ramona Gutierrez and Carmen Cook; his siblings, Cathy Owens, Rogeria Olivas, Rafelita Gutierrez; and his parents Jose Trivino and Pablita Gutierrez.  He is survived by his wife Lanette, daughter Mary Guyett, and his sons James, Joe, and Jon Gutierrez.  He is also survived by his sisters Irene Estrada and Olivia Arredondo and his brothers Felix, Florentino, and Sosteno Gutierrez.  He leaves behind eleven grandchildren, five great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

We appreciate all the prayers and support that family and friends have given so generously through the long years of his battle with cancer.  With the assistance of his dedicated medical team, Ramon courageously fought this horrible disease for more than sixteen years.  His grace and determination during this time will be a reminder of the miracles possible when we summon our will power and strength.  He will be missed.

A visitation/viewing will be held at Newell-Hoerlings Mortuary, 205 W. Pine St. in Centralia at 10 am on Monday, February 27th.  At noon, we will escort Ramon to the  Grand Mound Cemetery for a memorial in his honor at noon.  You are welcome to send flowers to the mortuary or donate to your favorite charity in Ramon’s name.

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