Manuel (Manny) Cruz Medrano, 83, of Claypool, Arizona, passed away on June 30, 2021 in Apache Junction, Arizona. Manny was born on April 18, 1938 in Superior, Arizona. Manny lived in Superior until joining the Navy in January 1955. Honorably discharged after four years of service, Manny, his brother Cheno and sister-in-law Irene moved to Northern California, where their aunt Frances and their cousins lived, to work in the lumber yards--in the cold, snowy weather for a few years. He eventually moved back to Superior to live with his mom. It was while he was in Superior that he met his beloved wife, Joyce. They moved to Miami, Arizona and were married in Las Vegas, Nevada on Jan. 11, 1969. They started their little family in 1970 with the birth of their first son, Samuel. Manny worked two jobs for 18 years to take his wife and kids on many summer vacations to visit their family in Portola, California.
Manny is preceded in death by his parents, Jorge A. and Luz Cruz Medrano; his sister Connie Moran; brothers Chuy and Cheno Medrano; his beloved wife, Joyce; and the heartbreaking loss of his grandson C.J. Young.
Manny is survived by his three children Samuel Medrano of Reno, Nevada, Dani (Scott) Crick of Miami, Arizona and Manuel (Shawna) Medrano of San Tan Valley, Arizona; 12 grandkids Kenny Medrano, Chris (Holly) Medrano, Cyle Medrano, Cody (Krista) Medrano, Kinzey Medrano, Michael (Noel) Young, Samantha (Joseph) Saucedo, Patrick (Jaenica) Crick, Julianna Joyce Medrano “Juju,” Anessa Medrano, Lindsay (Daniel) Molina and Brandon Deshazer; 17 great-grandchildren Warren, Godric, Theo, Birdie, Kamry, Karlee, Chloe, Cassidy, Koree, Brayden, Danielle, Graclynn, Adalyn, Noah, Nico, Travis and Aiden; numerous nieces and nephews; and many, many long-term close friends.
Memorial Services scheduled will be Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 3 p.m. at Family Fellowship Church, 200 E. Oak St., in Globe. Interment of ashes will be private.
There was one thing Manny loved more than family and that was his country.
God Bless America.
