Iona Dannelley Gutierrez

Iona Dannelley Gutierrez was born on May 21, 1926, to A.O. and Georgia Dannelley. The fourth of five children, she was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings: brothers Tom, Clyde, and John Dannelley, and sister Marie Dannelley Long. She is survived by her son, Harry Maxwell Friske of Katy, Texas; her grandson, Wesley Maxwell Friske; and her great-grandson, Logan Maxwell Friske of Nixa, Missouri.

After attending high school in Mirando City, Texas, Iona trained at Nursing School in Breckenridge, Austin, and became a Registered Nurse. She spent much of her life in south Texas, working in hospitals, private practice, and government agencies, before completing her career with several years of service at the Veterans Administration in Corpus Christi.

Following her retirement, she moved to Belton, Texas, with her husband, Dr. Marciano Gutierrez. There she formed close friendships and enjoyed lively games of dominoes and cards, often gathering friends on short notice. A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, she cherished singing with the congregation and looked forward each year to family reunions.

In 2010, Iona relocated to Katy, Texas, to be near her son. She lived independently and in good health until a broken shoulder in 2021 led to a series of medical challenges that diminished her quality of life in her final years. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at the Florence City Cemetery.