Esther Sommers Gutierrez
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It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, ESTHER SOMMERS GUTIERREZ, (77) on August 12, 2021, peacefully and gracefully, after a sudden illness in San Antonio, Texas. She was surrounded by her loving family.
The wise, witty, and fiercely passionate, Esther, was born on August 8, 1944, and raised in Brownsville, Texas. She was preceded in death by her mother, Elvira Hull; father, David M. Sommers; beloved uncles and aunts, Jose & Josephine Ortiz, Manuel & Antonia Huerta, Felix Hull, Daniel Hull; and grandparents Fulgencio & Refugia Hull.
She is survived by the love of her life of 54 years, James "Jimmy" Gutierrez. Together they raised their loving daughter, Laura G. Tamez, a trial lawyer, whom they taught to take charge, advocate for others and to lead, Laura's husband George J., who was like a son; granddaughter, Elena Esther, a senior at Texas A&M University; and grandson, Carlos James Tamez, a freshman at Texas Tech University, all of San Antonio, Texas. Also surviving are her cousins, whom she always considered her brothers and sisters: Dr. Felix (Sonia) Hull of Austin Tx, Dr. Jaime (Lisa) Hull of Seguin, Tx, Dina Davenport of McKinney, Tx, and Nelda (Jim) LaGrone of Austin, Tx.; her beloved aunt, Mrs. Beatrice Hull of McKinney, Tx. and Hector Ortiz of Albion, Michigan; and numerous nieces and nephews; and cousins from the Huerta (Daniel) family in Brownsville. She had many other cousins and relatives of whom she was very fond.
Esther's parents instilled in her the value of an education. She attended Immaculate Concepcion School and graduated from Brownsville High School in three years in 1962. She enrolled at Texas Southmost College where she was member of the dance club and was a basketball team cheerleader. After graduating from TSC in 1964, she enrolled at Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Tx where she obtained a BA in dual majors, English and Spanish in 1966. In 1974, she obtained a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from Pan American University in Edinburg, Tx. She also earned a Principal and Superintendent Administrative Credential Certification in 1982 at UT-Brownsville graduating with a 4.0 GPA. She also earned her real estate license in 1983.
Esther was hired by the Brownsville Independent School District in 1966. She went on to a fabulous career of 38 years, where she devoted herself to nurturing a pathway to college for her students and championing their successes to earn college scholarships. She taught English for six years and counseled for four years at Central Intermediate School under the guidance of Simon Rivera, and later transferred to Porter High School and then finished her career at Pace High School. She took on many roles at BISD, cheerleader sponsor, UIL judge, SAT director and many other events. After retirement, she was hired by ETS to serve as the Administrator of the Texas Teacher Certification Program for the local area from 2007-2012.
In the early 60's, Esther was elected Miss Cotton Carnival of Brownsville, was elected National Guard Sweetheart, and was a contestant in the RGV regional Miss America Contest. She was also a past- president of the TIP OF TEXAS Counseling Association. In 1980, she was named KBOR "Woman of the year" after being nominated by her senior class of Porter High School.
Esther was a parishioner and past parish council member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Brownsville and was also a parishioner of the Holy Trinity Church in San Antonio, Texas. She was considered by her family to be a prayer warrior as she would not hesitate to pray and light candles for family members, relatives, and anyone on the spur of the moment and for anybody, who had a problem or needed spiritual guidance. She was very fond of the holy archangels and the Blessed Mother. She always believed that each one of us had four guardian angels guarding us, front, back and the sides.
Esther was a lifelong Democrat exercising her right to vote in every election.
Most of her retirement years were spent traveling to and from San Antonio, to help raise her adorable grandchildren. When friends asked her what she was up to, she would respond "I'm a traveling grandparent." Esther was very charismatic, lit up a room with her personality and had a terrific sense of humor. She enjoyed chatting with her comrades, dancing, and listening to her husband's jukebox. She loved life and she loved God. She was one of a kind.
Special thanks to her primary care physician, Dr. Yasmeen Agha and the multi-disciplinary team of physicians and nurses, who treated Esther with great skill and compassion.
The family will receive friends at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at Porter Loring North with the rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. Burial services will be held at Buena Vista Burial Park, Brownsville, Texas at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021.
For those who wish to send flowers, please send them to Porter Loring North. Memorials may be made in Esther's name to M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com
Arrangements with
PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH
2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232 - (210) 495-8221