Manuel Torrez Jr., 56, of Brownwood, passed away in Comanche Thursday February 26, 2015. Funeral Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church of Lampasas, under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home of Early, will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday March 2, 2015 with Father Francis Njuko officiating. Interment will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas. A Rosary will be held 7:00 p.m. Sunday March 1, 2015 at the Heartland Chapel in Early. Condolences to the family can be left online at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net or come by the funeral home to sign the registry.
Manuel was born June 4, 1958, in Lampasas Texas to Manuel R & Delores Curiel Torrez. He graduated from Lampasas High School in 1976. He attended Houston Tillotson University on a baseball scholarship as a pitcher. Soon after attending college, Manuel began work in law enforcement, working as a correctional officer in Brown County Texas and Maricopa County Arizona. On September 6, 1986, Manuel married his best friend and soul mate Kathy Charlene Welch in Lampasas Texas. Manuel was a pitcher for both the Triple A club Chaparrels and Lampasas Badgers. After leaving the mound, he continued to stay in the dugout coaching his brother, sisters, and numerous cousins. His love for the game stretched further than just baseball. He coached basketball and helped in track. In his later years, Manuel never missed a game or meet for any of his kids, from teaching them the basics of football to stretching them before a meet, he made his presence known. After two generations of coaching, he decided to continue coaching his granddaughters, four continuous years of being a third base coach for four of his granddaughters. Even though he loved coaching, his favorite pass time was playing TaTa. He enjoyed nothing more than “letting the grandkids baby sit him.” Manuel leaves behind a legacy of strength, knowledge, intelligence and love. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Manuel is survived by wife Kathy Torrez of Brownwood; daughter, Mari Angelique Salazar of Lampasas; sons, Jeffery McDonald and wife Janel of Bangs, Anthony Torrez and wife Kayla of Bangs, Clint Torrez and Fiancé Shaela of Brownwood; daughter Monica Torrez and husband Chase of Brownwood; son, Jose Torrez of Brownwood; 10 grandchildren, Raenana & Isiah Vasquez of Lampasas, Haley and Avery Picklesimer of Bangs, Madison, Trinity, and Kayleigh of Bangs, Logan and Dominique Jackson of Brownwood and Ana of Brownwood; sister Marisol Torrez of Tucson AZ, Celeste Kyncy and husband Bryan William Kyncy II of Redding CA, Elisandra Torrez of Tucson AZ, brother Fedrico Torrez and wife Yolanda Torrez of Tucson AZ; parents, Manuel R. Torrez and Delores C. Torrez of Tucson AZ; numerous nieces and nephews. Manuel was preceded in death by sister, Danita Martin Torrez; grandparents, Raul L Curiel & Georgia Curiel, and Casimira Torrez, Enriguela Torrez & Refugia Torrez.
