Charlotte Delores (Kirk) Gutierrez, 86, died Friday, December 11, 2020, at a care facility in Omaha, Nebraska, after a long illness.

Born March 29, 1934, near Morristown, Tennessee, she was a daughter of Ray Franklin and Willie Mae (Cowan) Kirk. In 1943, the family moved to rural Rock Port. She graduated from Rock Port High School in 1952. Delores served in the Air Force from 1953 to 1956 and later pursued flight attendant and secretarial training. Several times her career plans were interrupted as she returned to help her mother care for her large family.

In the 1960s she moved to Omaha for secretarial work. She met Jesus “Jess” Gutierrez there and they were married in 1967. She immediately had a large family, with three young stepsons. She added daughter Barbara on March 6, 1970.

Jess preceded her in death on May 23, 2013.

Delores was a homemaker during her 46 years of marriage and was devoted to caring for her family. Before entering a care facility, she made her home in Omaha for many years with daughter Barbara and helped care for grandchildren Daniel, Cristina, and Jesus “J.C.” Alvarez.

Delores is survived by her daughter, Barbara Gutierrez Alvarez of Omaha; two stepsons, Mark (Pamela) Gutierrez, Phoenix, Arizona, and Daniel (Wendy) Gutierrez, Omaha; several grandchildren; two brothers, Woodrow Keith (Jeanette) Kirk, Corona, Illinois,  and Randy (Mei-Mei) Kirk, Estero, Florida; a sister, Jonna Kirk (Dale) Healy, Grant City, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by a stepson, Terry Gutierrez; brothers, Ray Franklin (Betty) Kirk, Jr., James William (Rose) Kirk, Howard Kelly Kirk, and Harold Lynn “Dean” Kirk; and two sisters, Betty Jo Kirk and Jane Elaine Kirk (Leland “Butch”) Blankenship.

The body was cremated. Inurnment was in the Omaha National Cemetery alongside her husband.