Bennie Ortiz

Our beloved Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma, Bennie Guevara Ortiz, 86, gained her Angel Wings on August 14, 2021, in Odessa, Texas.

Bennie was born February 27, 1935, to Margarita and Enrique Guevara in Balmorhea, Texas. However, she was raised in Toyah, Texas, and graduated from Toyah High School in 1953. During her time in high school, she was a multi-sport athlete and participated in volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Bennie's love for sports and competition was passed down to her children and grandchildren.

Shortly after high school, Bennie married the love of her life, Louis "Lichi" Ortiz on June 28, 1953. Pecos, Texas is where they planted their roots and started a family. Together, they had five lovely children: Rowena, Michael, Nora, Linda, and Maria.

Bennie worked as a sales clerk for C.R. Anthony's, later becoming Anthony's and finally becoming Bealls. She worked for the company for over 40 years. While working in sales, Bennie earned several distinguished accolades from the company. She was a people person with the gift of gab, which allowed her to be a successful saleswoman.

Bennie enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends. If you ask her family, they'd say she was the best cook! Anyone who entered her house would never leave hungry. She loved to travel and swim. In her younger years, the family took many camping trips and vacations to various places. She loved watching and supporting her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in sports, and she was their biggest fan. She hardly missed a game and often traveled long distances to show support. She even attended Pecos Eagle games to support her hometown.

When Bennie was not at a sporting event, she was at home watching sports on TV while completing a word search puzzle. She loved watching all sports, especially tennis. She loved the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and the famous tennis athlete Serena Williams. It was no surprise for her to call her children or grandchildren and ask, "are you watching the game?" In the evenings, you could find Bennie relaxing on her recliner, catching up on her novelas.

Bennie was a strong-minded devoted Catholic, a Guadalupana, and enjoyed leading the Holy Rosary before mass. She was caring, loving, and the matriarch of the Ortiz family. Her family and friends will greatly miss her.

Bennie is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 68 years, Lichi, her cherished children, Michael Louis Ortiz, and Nora Ortiz Jasso. As well as her parents Margarita and Enrique Guevara, sister Carolina Garcia, and brother Robert Guevara.

Bennie is survived by her daughters, Rowena (Lyle) Lyles, Linda Carrasco, Maria (Greg) Garcia, and son in law Joel Jasso. Her grandchildren, Melissa (Edward) Pippen, Lee (Rebecca) Lyles, Dina Ortiz, Nicko (Kassy) Jasso, Mark Garcia, and her great-grandchildren Amarissa, Ashlyn, Aaric Jeremiah Pippen, Camila, and Dylan Lyles, and Ace Joel Jasso.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 25, from 10:00 AM-9:00 PM at Peaceful Garden Funeral Home in Pecos, Texas, with the Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at Santa Rosa Catholic Church on Thursday, August 26, at 10:00 AM. Graveside services are to be held at a later time for immediate family only. A reception will immediately follow the funeral service at Santa Rosa Hall.