Nan "Nannie" Gutierrez

Nan Powell Gutierrez, 88, of Winston-Salem, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2015 after a courageous 15 year battle with Alzheimer's. She leaves behind her loving husband of 66 years, Joseph A. Gutierrez; daughters, Linda L. Gutierrez and Maria G. Combs and husband, Kenneth; grandchildren, Timothy Shackelford and wife Kristen, Raven Kitley, and James Combs; step-grandchildren, Margie Gilbert and Ann Gilbert; great-grandchildren, Emma and Lily Shackelford; and daughter-in-law, Braxton Gutierrez. Nan is predeceased by her daughter, Cynthia G. Bostic and her son, Joseph A. Gutierrez, Jr.

Nan was born May 17, 1927 in Warren County. She graduated from Watts Memorial Hospital in Durham in 1948. She served as head nurse at Duke Hospital and provided tender, loving care to countless patients. After raising four children, she decided to begin selling World Book Encyclopedias and quickly became a top salesperson in the Eastern United States.

In her free time, Nan enjoyed family beach trips, walking, playing bridge and scrabble, dancing and dinner with friends and most importantly, spending time with her grandchildren, whom she was very active in raising. An active member of Calvary Baptist Church until Alzheimer's disease took over, she enjoyed cleaning the pew pockets at church. She navigated through her life with a strong, consistent faith in God. Nan was a guiding light for her children, providing them with unfailing love and living her life as an example of how they should live theirs.

A celebration of Nan's life will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 2 PM at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Rev. Gary Byrum officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Entombment will follow the service at Forsyth Memorial Park.

Nan will be lovingly remembered as an adoring and nurturing wife and mother who was full of life and energy and had a wonderful sense of humor. She will be sorely missed. Online condolences may be made to Nan's memorial page at www.hayworth-miller.com.

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