Manuel Figueiredo was born July 12, 1941 in Selma, California, to Eleanor and Manuel Figueiredo. He passed away peacefully in Palmdale, California, on Feb. 23, 2025 after a short time in hospice care.

Manuel was raised in Buellton, and attended Santa Ynez High with the class of 1959.

He fondly told stories of delivering newspapers and working on Avenue of the Flags when it was Hwy. 101 with Pea Soup and seven gas stations. He sat in the café until a car came to gas up, then ran out to give full service — gas, windows, water and tires.

Manuel’s interest in cars grew into racing cars and then a career as a diesel equipment mechanic. He owned Manuel’s Equipment Repair, and his work took him to many properties from Santa Ynez to Ventura.

Manuel had three sisters Inez George, Genevieve Daugherty (deceased), and Eleanor Stanton. He was married to Joyce Rogers (deceased) from 1964 to 1984. His children were Wendy (deceased), and Daniel Figueiredo, Teri Figueiredo, Richard and Bob Philly. His grandchildren are Sarah, Evlingine and Elinor Figueiredo, Chase Pouliot, Marcus and Aaron Grossbard; and great grandchildren Ailee and Keana Grossbard.

Manuel married Valerie Cunningham King in 1992.  He spoke proudly of his early ’60s service in the U.S. Navy that instilled a love of the sea, and later in life he used his mechanical and welding skills to build a fishing vessel.

Manuel and Valerie fished that commercial vessel for halibut and shrimp out of Channel Island Harbor.  After spending most of his life under diesel trucks, his greatest pleasure was steering that ship.

Keep on sailing Manuel.

A Celebration of Life will be noon-3 p.m. March 10 at the event tent next to the Hitching Post 2 Restaurant, 406 E. Hwy. 246, Buellton.