Barbara Gutierrez

Barbara Gutierrez, 90, passed away on April 8th 2024 in her home in Green Valley, AZ. Barbara was born in Antonino, Kansas to the late Dominick and Anna (Rohr) Weigel. A few years later the family moved to Las Animas, Colorado and lived in an adobe house close to the Arkansas River. She had 13 siblings and attended several county schools in the area. The family moved to Rocky Ford, Colorado for a few years and then to La Junta, Colorado where they resided until 1955. At that time Barbara met her love, Alvin Gutierrez, a rancher from Villegreen, Colorado and raised their 4 children, Patricia, Alvin Gregory, Lorrie Ann and Marvin Douglas. The children and Barbara moved to La Junta where the children’s commute to school was a much shorter distance when compared to the 35 mile one-way commute from their ranch home to school in Kim, Colorado. Alvin remained on the ranch and eventually Barbara and the children moved back to the ranch while the children attended Higbee School in Higbee, Colorado. A few years later all the kids ended up going to Kim School were they each graduated and left home to attend the colleges of their choice.  Barbara’s focus was now to help Alvin on the ranch. She also did a lot of baking, a activity she dearly enjoyed. Barbara and her sister Mary baked wedding and birthday cakes or whatever the folks in the Kim area requested of them. She also helped as assistant cook in the Kim School lunch room and other occasions which included school proms & class reunions. She catered for several businesses in Colorado Springs and the Weigel family reunions. Electricity was a scarce luxury while living on the ranch and remained so although Alvin would start a generator to produce electricity, but only when absolutely necessary. They eventually installed a wind turbine along with solar power in 1989. To heat their home in the winter many cords of wood, cut onsite, were consumed. At one point Barbara used a wood-burning cooking stove to prepare her family’s meals. During the summer Alvin raised a large garden and Barbara canned its bounty. She always made sure her family had enough food. One winter an enormous winter storm engulfed the region. The family was locked in for 10 weeks and, because of Barbara’s planning, the family had plenty to eat. In 2013 Alvin and Barbara moved to Falcon, Colorado to be closer to their children and their families. In 2018 Alvin passed away and Barbara remained in their home until she and Greg moved to Green Valley, Arizona in 2021. She always referred to the ranch as ‘home’ and never lost her love of cooking. She spent many hours simply reading cookbooks and would page-mark her favorite recipes. She really enjoyed inviting friends and neighbors over to take part in her latest culinary creations - no one ever left hungry.

Barbara’s family was always priority to her. She is survived by her children Patty (Pete) of Calhan, CO and Greg (Jeff Wiese) of Green Valley, AZ and Lorrie (Patrick) of Falcon, CO and Marvin of Ellicott, CO and granddaughters Amy Carrica, Michelle Carrica and Samantha Small, great-grandson Wesley Carrica and sister Mary. She was preceded in passing by her siblings; Andy, Lawrence, Joe, Matt, Pete, Susie, Mollie, Clara, Johnny, Jerome, Jakie, and Alex.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held on Friday, May 10th 2024 at 10:00 am at Peacock Memorial Chapel. Graveside services will follow at the Higbee Cemetery.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.