Rafael Guzman

MCALLEN - For all of us, life’s journey begins at birth with dreams of success in the future. 

Rafael Guzmán began dreaming in 1925 in Williamson County in central Texas, west of Georgetown and north of Austin. On Saturday, October  24^th, Federico Guzmán and Seferina Casares added their fourth child, in the tiny farming community of Liberty Hill.  The healthy boy weighed in at a little over 7 pounds.  

The community knew Federico, a farmer, and Seferina, a Housekeeper, as hard workers dedicated to their church. El Atalaya Bautisa (The Baptist Watchtower) listed them as actively involved in the local branch of la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Austin where Federico served as Treasurer and Seferina a Sunday School Teacher. 

They would have thirteen children. Eight would  succumb before reaching adulthood.  However, through the years the family did grow to include five boys: Juan, Lencho, Rafael, Pedro, and Salvador and two daughters: Elida and Eva.  

Like his parents Rafael never ran from hard jobs or a challenge. He left  school after the third grade to work in countless states in nearly every part of the country. In each place, he mastered every craft and conquered every task he undertook. On farms Rafael did it all, from  picking cotton and harvesting wheat, to teaching himself to repair even the most complicated of farm implements.   

In the construction business,  he developed an unparalleled ability to install every kind of floor covering plus provided plumbing and welding solutions. His careful attention to detail and strong work ethic, inspired trust in all his bosses… and instilled fear among workers hoping to pass off substandard work.

In 1949, he married Paula Guzmán. That union produced eight children: Juan Rafael Guzmán of Mission, Olga Guzmán of Dallas, Amelia Deck of McAllen, Irma Guzmán of McAllen, Hilda Cuellar of McAllen, Leonel Guzmán of Cedar Hill, Noemi Guzmán of McAllen, and Nora McCaa of Edinburg. From their Father each passed on his belief in the value of hard work, succeeding in their chosen field of endeavor. 

Today, they remember a man who could at times be a taskmaster pulling the ear of anyone who stepped out of line, but also someone who, in moments of irreverent leisure, shared with them a little of life’s joys… like a sip of his ice-cold beer or letting them ride atop his cotton sack as he worked in the field.

Rafael Guzmán departs us as the last surviving child of Federico and Seferina Guzmán. However, he leaves us confident that his original dream of success continues to expand through the still budding accomplishments of his beloved grandchildren. They today include hotel owners, entrepreneurs, foreign service officers, research scientists, skilled craftsmen, medical professionals, educators and much more…  each carrying the same indomitable desire to succeed their Grandfather brought with him when he first entered this world, that October Saturday in 1925.   

Vaya con Dios.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with a 11:30 a.m. Celebration of Life Service on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at Legacy Chapels 4610 South Jakcson Road in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen. Pallbearers will be Xavier Guzman, Adam Bourne, Jacob Cuellar, Julio Medina, John McCaa, David Jasso. Honorary Pallbearers will be Leonel Guzman and Juan Guzman.

Funeral services are under the direction of Legacy Chapels in Edinburg.