Obituary

Mariano “Rick” V. Manriquez, age 91, passed away peacefully at home in Litchfield Park, AZ, Friday, November 17, 2017. He was born April 16, 1926 in Humboldt, AZ to Higinio and Manuela (Villacaña) Manriquez and was the sixth of nine children born. He was the last surviving sibling.

As a young boy, Mariano dedicated his life to Jesus Christ. This life changing decision continued to influence and guide him throughout his entire life. On the family farm he proved to be a helpful and dependable worker and was often referred by his father as his “right hand.” As a child he earned the nickname ”Billy” at school because his job at home was to take care of the goats. He was instructed to bring the goats back to the house when the janitor took down the school flag, which he could see from the hillside. Believing as he always had, if you had a job you were told to do, you did it. So each day he stayed with the goats until the flag came down. But one day the janitor forgot to take the flag down, so he stayed up there on the hillside well after dark till one of his brothers finally went to tell him to bring the goats home.

He graduated valedictorian from the ninth grade in Clemenceau and he was the salutatorian of the Clarkdale High School class of 1944. After graduation he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. While in basic training he joined five fellow recruits who called themselves The Gospel Team and would go out and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Army then sent him to Guam for further training, but before he finished his training the war ended and he was honorably discharged. Using the G.I. bill he enrolled in the University of Arizona and after three years graduated in 1951 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

After college, Mariano began working for Boeing Aircraft. Working for Boeing took him to Seattle, Wichita, Savannah and Morocco and back again to Seattle. In 1954 while working in Wichita he attended a church convention in Kansas City where he met his wife, Emma (Bátrez) Manriquez. He was smitten. They got engaged and were married three months later. Their union lasted 63 wonderful years and produced four children. He stayed with the Boeing Company for 30 years before retiring and moving from Seattle, WA to Cypress, CA to work for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft for 6 more years before retiring for good in 1991.

Mariano spend his retirement years cruising around the world with his wife, volunteering, reading, and visiting friends, and his many relatives. He was an avid swimmer and walker. He enjoyed spending time with his 6 grandchildren Alex Rataezyk, Brandt Rataezyk, Gilbert Rataezyk, Cole Rataezyk, Paloma Manriquez and Ivana Manriquez.

Mariano will be remembered for his quick smile and a helping hand, his generous easygoing spirit and his love of the Lord.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Emma (Bátrez) Manriquez; son Rick Manriquez and his wife Cheryl of Federal Way, WA; daughter Julie Rataezyk and her husband Jack of Litchfield Park, AZ; daughter Jean Manriquez of Kent, WA; son Dean Manriquez and his wife Marcela of Irvine, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Guadalupe Ochoa, Cecilia Anisa, Ysmael Manriquez, Honorato Manriquez, Maria Eliza Manriquez, Carmen Manriquez, Helen Kallenback, and Jimmy Manriquez.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at The Church at Litchfield Park, 300 N. Old Litchfield Park, AZ 85340.  The family suggests that donations be made to World Vision.