Manuel Lopez

“I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” -- The Hobbit Manuel Lopez, 51, passed away on 3 June 2025 in his home in Albany, Oregon. A loving friend and devoted father, he is survived by ex-partner Anna Parras and their three children: Samantha, Jonathan, and Vincent Lopez. Manuel was born in Los Angeles, California, on 12 June 1973. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1991 and earned his degree in Communications from Cerritos College in 1996. Manuel and Anna were married on 6 January 1996 and began their journey together as the “Lopi Clan.” After their youngest, Vincent, was born, they moved their family to Corvallis, Oregon, and became proud Pacific Northwesterners. As the outpouring of love in recent days has demonstrated, Manuel left a lasting mark on all those that came to know him. Whether working on someone’s car as a mechanic, mentoring teenagers at the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, or providing hospice care for one of his many clients, Manuel met people with an open mind and, more importantly, an abundance of kindness and compassion. He could befriend anyone, anywhere, at any time and always took care of others before himself. Manuel was a man of many passions. As a younger man, he surfed the Pacific that he loved and used his knowledge as a mechanic to restore classic cars. He loved all things Batman, Lord of the Rings, and the Chicago Bears and never missed a Sunday kickoff with his family. When not at home, he could be found embracing nature while camping, fishing, and crabbing. Some of his happiest moments in recent months were weekend day trips to the coast to collect agates with his newest partner in crime, Sadie, the family’s German Shepherd. As he got older, he turned his remarkable eye for detail to crafting figurines, painting gifts for loved ones, and transforming the neighborhood with his homemade Christmas and Halloween decorations. As Anna has said, “We were his greatest passion.” Manuel was never happier than when spending time with his best friend, Anna, and Samantha, Jonathan, Vincent and the family pets. All the camping trips, music festivals, and home-cooked meals will remain cherished memories. Manuel’s enduring legacy will be his three children, into whom he poured all the best parts of himself. In each of them, he instilled a zeal for life, a passion for hard work, an infectious sense of humor, a deep kindness towards all, and a beautiful smile. Manuel’s next big dreams were to own a house on the coast and walk his daughter down the aisle later this summer at her wedding. While not all of these dreams may come true exactly as he planned, Samantha, Jonathan, and Vincent have pledged to always keep their beloved Papa Bear’s dreams and memory alive in their hearts. We love you, Dad.

Tributes

Manuel Lopez

June 12, 1973 - June 3, 2025