Gladys Velez

Gladys Velez will be laid to rest in Augusta, Georgia. Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 31 at Poteet & Sons Funeral Home <https://www.thomaspoteet.com/>. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s on the Hill Catholic Church<https://www.stmaryonthehill.org/> on Friday, September 1 at 11am.

Gladys was born July 11, 1934 in Jipijapa, Ecuador. She was the first of nine children born to Libia San Lucas and Ignacio Gutierrez. She passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023 in Cortez, Colorado at the age of 89.

Gladys came to the United States on her 24th birthday in 1958. Her husband, Vicente Velez, followed three months later when his Visa was approved. Their reunion was inspirational. They went on to raise a family, become American citizens who loved this country and who also never forgot their cultural roots and traditions.

Surviving Gladys are her children, Vincent Velez (Laurie) of Appling, GA, Christine Velez (Scott) of Denver, CO, and Maureen Velez-Truax (Dell) of Hesperus, CO; by her grandchildren Vincent Velez of Mesa, AZ, Jonathan Velez (Jessie) of Appling, GA, Kyle and Corinne Truax of Hesperus, CO; her great-grandson Jameson Truax, and great-granddaughter Carmen Velez.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Vicente; and her grandchildren Kerri and Matthew Velez.