Her Kindness Lives on in Every Smile
BIOGRAPHY
Beatriz “Bee” Guzman Solis passed away peacefully on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the age of 79. She lived her life caring deeply for others, bringing joy to the people around her, and always finding a way to make someone smile.
Even in her final days at the hospital, Bee continued to touch the lives of others. During her stay, she befriended the patients and families who came through the shared room beside her. She became especially close to the last family, who later shared, “We have never met a person that so profoundly changed our lives and thinking in just a couple of days. She was extremely thoughtful and very kind.” Whenever hospital staff or anyone asked if she needed anything else, Bee would simply answer, “Just a smile.” It was a simple phrase that captured the essence of who she was. No matter what she was going through, seeing others smile brought her joy.
Born in El Paso, Texas, to Jesus Francisco and Beatriz Guzman, Bee, or “Betty” as she was known in the family, was the eldest of nine siblings. From an early age, she embraced her role of helping others, becoming a “second mother” to her younger brothers and sisters while helping her mom care for them. She helped feed and bathe them, get them ready for school, and made sure their homework was done.
Caring for others remained an important part of Bee’s life. She raised her two sons, Curtis and Adan, and was a loving grandmother to their children. Later, when her parents’ health declined, she moved in with them and lovingly cared for them until their passing.
Her service extended beyond her family. Bee was active with the El Paso Historical Society and Concordia Heritage Association, helping preserve the history and culture of her community. She joined the Civil Air Patrol and assisted with Search and Rescue missions, served as one of only a handful of female leaders with the Boy Scouts, and was a devoted member of the San Juan Senior Center and San Juan Bautista Catholic Church.
Bee had a special way of touching a person’s heart. Her goal each day was to make someone smile. She was known for pressing a crumpled dollar bill into a stranger’s hand and saying, “Here’s a hug for you!” Whether it was making someone smile, offering a hug, or simply showing kindness through a small gesture, it was her way of brightening someone’s day.
Bee was intelligent, curious, and capable of doing just about anything she put her mind to. She worked in accounting, drafting, and construction before beginning a 20-year career with IBM as the only female Field Technician in the El Paso region at that time, a role she held with great pride until her retirement.
More than anything, Bee loved her family. A phone call, a visit, or simply sharing a laugh with the people she loved could make her day. She will be remembered for her kindness, her strength, her sense of humor, and the countless smiles she brought to others.
Bee is survived by her sons, Curtis Solis and Adan Solis and his wife, Sheriden; her grandchildren, Isaiah and Micah Solis; her sisters, Adela Guzman and Alice Guzman and her husband Frank; her brothers, Jesus Guzman and his wife, Martha, Germán Guzman and his wife, Angie, and David Guzman and his wife, Ninfa; and ten beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesus Francisco and Beatriz Guzman, and her brother, Victor Manuel Guzman.
