Sotero Gomez

Sotero Gomez, age 92, of Gatesville, Texas passed away from this life to glory on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. A celebration of his life will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Coryell Valley Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral services. Sotero was born on April 22, 1924 near Carrizo Springs, Texas to tenant farmers, the late Pedro and Petra Gomez. As a teenager, Sotero spent summers working on cattle ranches in west Texas. Methodists led him and his family to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. He graduated from Carrizo Springs High School, and then served as a field artillery gunner during WWII in the 79th Infantry Division. His unit fought in France, Belgium, and Germany. Sotero attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University) in San Marcos and received a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts and a Master’s degree in Administration. He met his wife, Sarah Ortunio of Kyle, at the El Buen Pastor (Good Shepherd) Methodist Church in San Marcos. Sotero and Sarah were married on February 1, 1951 in Kyle. In 1952, they were hired by Charles Reeve to teach at the State School for Boys in Gatesville, where Sotero worked as a teacher and principal of the Hilltop School. He also worked at the T.D.C.J. Mountain View Unit. Sotero enjoyed farming and ranching on his land along Coryell Creek and especially liked working with his quarter horses. He was a member of the Gatesville Lions Club and a Boy Scout troop leader. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Gatesville. In recent years, the Gomez family restored an abandoned church building on their land and established Coryell Valley Chapel, a congregation of The Wesleyan Church. Sotero is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sarah Gomez; sons, Oscar Gomez and wife, Elizabeth of Conway, Arkansas, Victor Gomez of Waco, and Andy Gomez of Gatesville; sister, Felipa Gomez of Carrizo Springs; grandchildren, John Gomez of Houston and Ruth Kitchens and husband, Jesse of Arkansas; great-grandchildren, Sara Langford and Joshua Langford of Waco; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. Memorials may be made to Coryell City-Osage Volunteer Fire Dept., c/o 9575 FM 929, Gatesville, TX 76528.