Honor Payton Gutierrez: Headstone & Research Support

It is with a heavy heart that I share on Sunday January 26, 2025 son, brother, cousin, uncle and friend, Payton Elisha Gutierrez, met with our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Payton fought a long and tough battle for years with Lyme Disease and Biotoxin Illness. During his time with this Disease he became very educated and knowledgeable on the best ways to help him fight this exposure. Payton was kind, honest, intelligent and a leader to all those who crossed his path. Payton, who I call Bubba, has been more of a big brother to me than anything else. We got to grow up as siblings because Elisha (cousin), Payton and I were so close in age. We shared so many days and nights having the best childhood together at Grandma Liz’s (Elizabeth Gutierrez, Mom), house causing chaos. Payton always looked after Elisha and I, he was one of the best people to have around to be able to look up to.

Growing up Payton was a child full of radiant energy. He loved to be outdoors, was passionate about music, had a great love in his heart for his friends, family and Jesus Christ, and was avid in sports and the church community. For several years he played football for the Orcutt Youth Football league, he played alongside many friends which always made games and practice more of a memorable time. A big inspiration to him during his adolescence was Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback, number 7, Ben Roethlisberger. (I’m pretty sure he wore that jersey for a couple months straight before he started wearing new things).

Payton attended grade school at Valley Christian Academy, where he made many wonderful friends, played baseball as well as basketball for the schools team and excelled in just about every subject in school.

After grade school he attended Orcutt Academy High school where he started to discover who he wanted to be in his life. This is where Payton started to get more involved with music, and where he started to become more passionate about playing the drums. Luckily, when Payton was younger, our friend, pastor Tim would let him come into Four Square Church after hours, where he would get to practice for as long as he needed to. Music was a very big part of Payton’s life and he always had a beautiful ear for an amazing artist. Payton was astounding on the drums and carried that with him throughout his life. After high school Payton attended Allan Hancock College to obtain his Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts Transfer: Mathematics and Science. While studying he also worked in several different fields where he gained more knowledge of Mathematics and Science in different aspects.

If he wasn’t playing drums, at work or at school, he was usually out surfing some gnarly waves. Payton loved to be in the water, rain or shine you would always catch him facing some crazy waters. No matter how hard of a battle the waves put up, he never gave up the fight. Always headstrong, stubborn, but still passionate about the things he enjoyed.

Payton spent several years venturing outside of his hometown to many different places where he got to experience many different adventures. Ventura was his home for a while, where he got to work and surf as much as he pleased. For a few years Payton got to thrive in New York City. The city was where Payton seemed the learn more about life and himself started living in his dreams. While in NYC he was an amazing drummer for a band called “Stereoship”, a group of him and some friends who were all amazingly talented and had a great passion for music.

Payton was headstrong, considerate, brave, inspiring and a fighter. He believed his purpose here on this earth was to help others who unfortunately shared the same difficulties. He shared that his wish was to further his education in Science to be able to focus on helping furthering his research and learning the best ways possible to help others with this horrible disease.

In his memory, I am working to raise funds to purchase a headstone that will honor his life and the impact he had on all of us.

In addition, Payton had a long and difficult battle with Lyme disease and Biotoxin Illness, which is still under-researched and underfunded. In his honor, we have decided that any funds raised beyond the cost of the headstone will be donated to Lyme disease research, so that others may benefit from advancements in treatment and awareness.

If you feel moved to contribute, any amount is greatly appreciated. Donations can be made directly through LymeDisease.org and we will ensure transparency by keeping you updated on the progress of both the headstone and the donation to Lyme disease research.

Payton is survived by father David Gutierrez Sr. and mother Elizabeth (Liz) Bontempo-Gutierrez; brother and sister-in-law David and Jennifer Gutierrez Jr.; sister and brother-in-law Brianna and Jesse Zepeda; nephews Elisha Zepeda and Johnny Gutierrez and nieces Anastasia Gutierrez and Addison (Addie) Gutierrez; aunts and uncles Domingo (Gina) Gutierrez, Luis (Fella) Gutierrez, Delfa (Jesse) Fletes, Ramona (Lionel) Vargas, Mike (Jennifer) Bontempo, Cara (Richard) Martinez, Terri (Michael) Etteddgue, Laura Bon-tempo, Nicole (John) Garcia and Joe (Janette) Bontempo, as well as numerous cousins.

Thank you for your love, support, and generosity during this time. Your kindness means the world to our family.

Payton’s love and legacy will carry on forever.

We all love you so much Payton.