Carole Ann Sutton Gutierrez earned her wings and departed for heaven at 1:10 pm, September 19th, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Ruth Sutton and her sisters, Alice Hummel and Marion Trettin. She will be profoundly missed by her beloved family, Daniel Gutierrez (Houston, TX), and their children, son, Heath Gutierrez (Sweeny, TX) , wife, Kathryn Stevenson Gutierrez, their children, Tyler Head, Charles Gutierrez, and William Gutierrez, and Carole and Daniel’s daughter, Elizabeth Gutierrez Hamilton (Spring, TX), husband, Jason Hamilton, and lastly, Carole’s dog, Coy.
Originally from Haskins, Ohio, born at home, into a family deeply affected by the Great Depression. (1939) Her parents were God fearing Christians (Presbyterian), servers of their church, community, and were sharecroppers. A family of farmers, inn keepers of the Columbian House Inn of Waterville, OH, in which Carole’s grandmother owned and operated, and where Carole’s mother was born. The family has a long history of musicians, which has trickled down to her children’s love of music. During those tough times, the Suttons were survivors, finding ways to earn extra money, such as going town to town to sell eggs. The family lived alongside of the winding, beautiful, turbulent, Maumee river, where as a child, Carole liked to play with the river snakes like they were dolls. Later, the family moved a few miles inland, on a large farm, where they harvested crops and raised all different kinds of livestock. To help make ends meet, her father, Lawrence Sutton, managed and toured the family band, which featured Carole’s mother, Ruth, on the piano, and her father on drums, sometimes with her sister, Alice (played piano and drums) and of course, Carole herself on trumpet. Carole was a sensational musician that could play multiple instruments, especially the trumpet. She would go on to win competitions, such as Ohio State Competition, known as Dan Daily Talent Show, awards and scholarships for her musical talent. Graduating high school as Valedictorian, she continued to Bowling Green State University with a full scholarship. At Bowling Green State, she served as a member and an officer for her sorority, PHI MU, and elected as Drum Major or leader of the university’s marching band. Carole earned various degrees, including graduating top of her class with a Masters of Music, and attended John Caroll University and University of Colorado to further her studies. Eventually, while working on her PHD, she settled into a career as a psychologist and professor of music, in which at that time, she met her husband, Daniel Gutierrez, an officer of the United States Army, passing through (at the time) her hometown of Cleveland, OH. After 4 months of courtship, they married, and moved to Europe, in which Carole has repeatedly said, was the happiest time of her life. She loved living in Germany and traveling all over Europe, as a child psychologist. After living a few years in Europe, they returned to the States and started a family. They first welcomed their little miracle, a son, Heath Spencer Philip Gutierrez (1974, Ft Sill, OK) and then their angel, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Heather Gutierrez (1978, Tomball, TX).
Ending up in Houston, TX, Daniel retired from the military and landed a prominent position working for the City of Houston. Carole stayed home with their children, but continued to teach music out of the home, and at the local schools, as a private teacher. She was the best stay at home mother anyone could wish for. She made sure her children didn’t lack for anything, and welcomed all the children’s friends into the home as her own. In later years, she returned to the workforce as a high school counselor, at Incarnate Word Academy. She was known for her potato salad and trumpet playing for school events. Travel was a big deal to Carole and to expose her children to different cultures. In the summers, Carole would visit her family back home in Ohio, bringing her children there to bond with their relatives. Family was important to her. Carole enjoyed decorating and making a big to-do for all the holidays. It was always a home of love, family and pets. Carole was passionate about animals, passing that gift to her children.
A wife, mother, friend and gentle soul. Every life she touched, was better for it! Until we see her again, may she reunite with loved ones that preceded her in death.
God Bless this wife and mother, the heart of the family.
A visitation for Carole will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM at Brookside Funeral Home – Champions in the Paloma Venue, 3410 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, Texas 77068.
