Betty Mae Gutierrez, 79, formerly of Halls Corners Road, Philadelphia, passed away Friday, June 9, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia, where she had resided since January 2016.
The daughter of Alton and Carrie McCrea, Betty was born on April 12, 1938 in Canton, New York, and raised on dairy farms in St. Lawrence Country before graduating from Antwerp High School in 1956.
On August 18,1956, at the First Methodist of Gouverneur with the Rev. William Wood presiding, Betty married Royal F. Gutierrez, son of Joshua and Ruby Gutierrez of Philadelphia. Betty and Royal were married for 58 years until Royal’s passing in 2014. Betty is survived by their four children, Debbie McKenzie and husband Kenny of Philadelphia, NY, Mark Gutierrez and wife Sandy of Antwerp, NY, Brad Gutierrez and wife Beth of Alexandria, VA, and Deanne Widrick and husband Tim, of Merritt Island, FL. Betty is also survived by six grandchildren and step-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, a sister, Addie Cooper of Antwerp, NY, a brother, Terry McCrea, Palm Bay, FL, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was pre-deceased by two brothers, Walter and Efton McCrea, Gouverneur, NY, and a sister, Martha Smith, Barboursville, VA.
Betty was well known in the Philadelphia area for the bakery business she operated out of her home during the 60’s and 70’s, providing baked goods for local restaurants and stores, as well as wedding cakes for many area weddings. For many years, until disabling health crises forced her retirement in 1994, Betty worked in Philadelphia and Watertown for the Jefferson National Bank, formerly Bank of Philadelphia. In retirement, Betty was an active volunteer at local senior citizen facilities, and continued to provide her treasured baked goods to the local community.
For many years Betty was an active member of The Grange in Antwerp, an avid bowler in local leagues, and a frequent presence at local area music venues supporting her husband’s country music career. She also enjoyed gardening and needlework.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Betty’s name to:
The Volunteer Transportation Center, Inc.,203 N. Hamilton St., Watertown, NY 13601 (www.volunteertransportationcenter.org) or to the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org)
A memorial service will be held at a later date with burial to follow in Childs Falls Sunrise Cemetery, Philadelphia.