Manuel Salas Perales

MANUEL SALAS PERALES

Manuel Perales went home to be with his:   “I Am Who I Am” on December 2nd, 2021. After struggling for three years with Parkinson’s disease, Manuel passed away suddenly with COVID, saying “he was going home…Hurry, go with me”.

Manuel was born on April 11, 1944 in Saltillo, Mexico.   He was very proud of his children, Manuel Jr., Melba  Umanzor-Perales and Michelle Leija-Perales as well as of his two loving step children:  Bo Shelton and Melissa Hunter.  Manuel is survived by his beloved wife of 20 years, Gloria Cordova-Perales, his brother, Dr. Javier Ramos and his two sisters Magdalena Ramos Guzman and Minerva Ramos Salas and his 8 grand-children.   

Moving to Texas in 1964, he attended the International Baptist Seminary and became pastor of Southside Baptist Church in San Antonio, and later the Northpark Baptist Church in Houston.  He worked as a machinist in Houston’s Machinery then He worked 26 years for the City of Houston as a mechanic, and then designed a machine shop which saved the City of Houston thousands of dollars, and provided machinist training to all of the workers in the machine shop.

Manuel was always everyone’s “friend”.  Every organization he touched was impacted by his little gifts, candy packages and his broad smile.  He knew no strangers, and never left any person feeling neglected, wherever he was, whether he was house –sitting or helping the neighbors with their garbage containers, he constantly thought about loving and caring for others.

When he moved to Albuquerque, it didn’t take long for Manuel to endear himself to the Cordova side of the family.  He loved and was loved by all his family and friends.  He always sought to see that all others were seated and fed before he sat down, and loved to help in whatever way he could.  His group of friends knew when he arrived, whether he was a Santa Claus for Christmas or Cantinflas for Halloween.  Manuel’s parting gift to the Cordova family was his huge ROCK saying “I Am Who I Am”, that he left in front of his home in Rio Rancho.

In lieu of flowers, send charitable contribution to:  St. John Vianney Church – Building Fund, 1001 Meteor Avenue North East, Rio Rancho, NM 87144