Cy-Fair firefighter was ‘a big guy with a big heart’

COVID-19 claims 31-year-old father of three after a 22-day struggle in hospital

HOCKLEY — A room filled with people listened at Community of Faith Church as the Cy-Fair Fire Department’s Communications Center transmitted a message over the department’s radio channel.

“It is with deep regret and heavy hearts that the Cy-Fair Fire Department announces the passing of Hugo Guevara,” the message informed listeners. “The bell has been struck for his last alarm. He has been called home. May the sun shine upon his path, may the wind always be at his back, and may the Lord hold him in the palm of His hand until we meet again. You will be deeply missed and your memories will never be forgotten.”

Family, friends and first responders gathered Thursday at the church in Hockley to honor the life of Guevara, a Cy-Fair Fire Department driver operator who died last month after a 22-day battle with COVID-19.

Guevara served at Station 9 and had been with the department since 2009, an agency spokesperson said. After serving as a volunteer firefighter at Stations 5 and 12, he was promoted to driver operator in 2020.

Guevara was hospitalized for COVID at Memorial Hermann Cypress on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 25. He was 31. Guevara is the department’s first line-of-duty death from COVID-19, the agency said.

According to his obituary, Guevara also served areas of Montgomery, Katy, Waller and Willowfork during his firefighting career.

A post on the Waller-Harris Emergency Service District #200 Facebook page encouraged thoughts and prayers for the family of Guevara, who had been a part-time firefighter with that district.

Following a firefighter funeral march on Thursday morning, guests entered Community of Faith Church for the service where family and friends shared memories of Guevara.

The night before, lead pastor Wesley Jackson found himself cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers in honor of Guevara, who was from California and an avid Dodgers fan. The Dodgers won a thrilling wildcard game over St. Louis.

“He has that kind of an impact, and what an epic game on the eve of celebrating Hugo’s life today,” Jackson said. “He was hilarious. He was funny — whether it was playing his ukulele at the station, or going to Wolfies … but not letting anybody know he was at Wolfies; he would tag himself at 24-Hour Fitness instead. He was always looking for a moment to make people laugh.”

Looking out at the number of people who’d gathered, Jackson said Guevara’s impact on others was obvious. Guevara’s absence is painful, Jackson said, but he encouraged those in attendance to remember and celebrate his life.

“Hugo would be disappointed if we didn’t laugh today,” Jackson said. “There may be some crying, but I want us to consider what Hugo’s life means to us today, to each one of us individually, as we say, ‘Goodbye for now.’ ”

Forrest Price, a game warden with Texas Parks and Wildlife, has known Guevara for more than a decade.

Price was formerly a firefighter with the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department working at Station 5.

“I first met Hugo, believe it or not, on a fire back in 2010. It was an apartment fire off of Timber Creek, Highway 6,” Price remembers. “He was back with Station 12 at the time, and it was one of the few times that Station 12 beat us into 5’s territory.”

When Price arrived at the scene, he approached Hugo. They spoke and Price remembers being struck by how big Guevara was.

The two grabbed a hose, Guevara at the nozzle with Price behind him.

“We make entry and every time he would take a big old step, he would actually pull me to the floor,” Price said.

It was after the fire had been extinguished that the two began conversing and had what Price calls their “ah-ha” moment.

“Like from the movie ‘Step Brothers:’ ‘Did we just become best friends?’ ‘Yep.’ So that’s kind of how it all started for me and Hugo,” Price said.

Guevara’s passion for music was widely known among family and friends, and helped inspire Price’s own love of music. The two would listen to everything from rock to country, Tejano to reggae.

Even when Price moved out of town, they would send playlists of music to each other. “He used music to bring people together, no matter how far apart,” Price said.

Guevara’s uncle, Rene Hernandez, like many of his family members, wore a Dodgers shirt as he recalled memories of his nephew.

“He was a big guy with a big heart that loved to give big hugs to everyone. I mean, you had to be ready for those big hugs because if you weren’t ready, he’d shake you up — he’d shake you up pretty good. I’d tell him, ‘Take it easy, man, I’m an old man, you might break me,’ ” Hernandez smiled.

Hernandez spoke of the importance of sharing stories of Guevara. Stories become memories to cherish, he explained. The stories he will miss the most are those Guevara would tell of his children — Ryan, Kyla and Elijah.

“Hugo was proud of a lot of things,” Hernandez said. “He was proud to be a firefighter, a friend, a cousin, a nephew, brother, son and grandson, but what he was most proud of was you three,” he told them.

His obituary asks people to donate to help his children and family. Memorials can be made to hugovibes.hugostrong@gmail.com through Zelle or @HugoVibes through Venmo.