Sarah Romero “Grandma” Gomez, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and cherished friend passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 14, 2022.

Mrs. Gomez was born into humble beginnings on November 3, 1923, on a farm in Bangs, Texas to Esteban Mutia Romero and Ester Hernandez. She was one of eight children. From a very early age, Mrs. Gomez was a very hard worker. She began working at the age of fourteen where she was a live-in nanny and maid, she worked for the railroad cleaning the railway cars. When she was sixteen, she worked at the Poultry House. When she was eighteen, she began to work at different restaurants. This is where she developed her love of cooking.

Mrs. Gomez was blessed with eight children. Sarah met Teodoro Gomez while working at a local restaurant together in 1944. He was a handsome soldier who relocated to Brownwood from Knickerbocker, Texas after War II. Sarah was the cook and Teodoro Gomez was the dishwasher. After a short whirlwind romance, they were married on June 14th, 1945.

In 1958, an ordinance was passed for Brownwood residents to obtain an alcohol license. Sarah and Teodoro obtained the second license issued in Brownwood. They opened a beer to go store. This went on to become a café later that year where they sold chili burgers, hot dogs, and hamburgers. Within six months, they added tamales to go. Soon, thereafter, they added the famous “Mexican Dinner”. They quickly outgrew this little store and in 1961 they purchased the adjoining property where Gomez operated until 2014.

Mrs. Gomez was a compassionate, kind, and generous spirit. She never let anyone go hungry. She provided countless meals to people who were hungry and couldn’t afford to pay. Mrs. Gomez was involved in St. Mary’s Catholic Church and in the Brownwood State School ministries. Mrs. Gomez donated and volunteered to many organizations in Brownwood. She donated to many Brown County youth sports groups, Brownwood independent School District and to the St. Mary’s youth group.

Mrs. Gomez had a deep spiritual relationship with her Lord. She attended religious retreats with her daughters. She was always ready to give a blessing or to pray for anyone. Many friends, customers and family would seek her out for prayer, whether it was at her home, behind the register or even at Walmart. Mrs. Gomez loved building her business and considered her customers family. She used to sit behind the register and prayed silently for each and every person to be blessed as they left the restaurant.

On December 09, 2008, the Brownwood City Council, dedicated the lane behind Gomez Restaurant as Sarah Gomez Lane.

In 2021, Mrs. Gomez received an awarded from the Strategic Alliance for Leadership and Social Action (SALSA) called trailblazers of Brownwood.

Mrs. Gomez is preceded in death by her parents, Esteban Romero and Ester Hernandez Romero, her brothers Steve Romero, Florentino Romero, Tomas Romero and one sister, Hortencia Robles. She was also preceded in death by two children, Adolfo Romero and Delores Rodriguez.

Those left to cherish her memory are her two sisters, Lupe Romero and Gloria Hayes and her children Ventura and spouse Alex Estrada of California, Sarah and spouse Raymond Tellez, Teodoro Gomez Jr. and Spouse Helen Gomez, David Gomez, Dora Vasquez and Mary Jane and spouse Ernest Boisse, all of Brownwood, Texas. Mrs. Gomez had 23 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Catholic Mass for Mrs. Gomez will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 17th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brownwood, Texas. Following the service, Mrs. Gomez, will be laid to rest at Greenleaf Cemetery. Immediately afterwards, a reception will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Reception Hall for all who would like to attend. Family and friends are invited to Davis Morris Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 16th, for visitation at 6:00 followed by a Rosary service beginning at 7:00p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Heritage Davis Morris Funeral Home of Brownwood, Texas.