Manuel Ricardo Elias' Obituary
Manuel Ricardo Elias, (Rick) Age 77, passed away July 25, 2014 in San Bernardino, California. He was lovingly known as “Honey, Dad, Papa, Grandpa, Brother, Dickie, Tio, Mr. Elias, and Richard”. He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 55 years, Mary Cervantez-Elias. His daughter Maria Elias-Curtis, son, Rick Elias (Cindy), grandchildren, Philip Curtis (Thelma), Laura Curtis, Ashlee Elias, Anthony Chavez, Austin Elias, Ricky Elias, and Antonio Elias. Great-Grandchildren, Kailani and Kyle Whitson, and Nathan and Andrew Curtis. He is also survived by many extended family members, locally in California and in Arizona.
Born in Douglas, Arizona to Porfirio and Francesca Elias on September 29, 1936. Francesca became ill and passed when he was just six years old. His father remarried and Delia Bernal-Elias became “Mom”. She lovingly cared for him as her own son and he adored her as his mother. Richard was one of three sons. Preceding him in death are Leonardo and Porifio Elias, Jr., and sisters, Dora Elias-Urrea and Yvonne Elias-Perez. Surviving sisters are Rosa Elias-Herrera and Stella Elias-Dominquez.
His family moved from Arizona to California where he spent his growing years in Colton. Rick attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary school and was a proud “Yellow Jacket” graduate of Colton High School. He married and moved to Highland where he and Mary raised their family. Rick was a 54 year resident of Highland and an active member at St. Adelaide’s Church. He loved coaching and volunteering at the Highland Little League fields and was a big fan of San Gorgonio’s baseball team. An avid Dodger and Laker fan, he wore their team gear proudly and hardly missed watching a game on TV.
Rick worked for many years in Colton for Squires Lumber Company. He left Squires and continued to work in the lumber and hardware business, most recently working at K & L Hardware in San Bernardino. Anyone that needed to know how to fix something or learn what tool to use, Rick was the man to call. Typically a 10 minute job would turn into a full day adventure, ending with family or friends getting together and enjoying the camaraderie and the relief of getting the job done!
Rick’s love of family and friends was so evident. He was always interested in how others in his life were doing and loved hearing and learning about them. He celebrated their successes and shared in their sadness. He always loved a good joke, a contagious laugh, a warm hug and his wife’s delicious cooking. He enjoyed many things in life and family was so important to him. He had his favorite things in life, but who he loved the most was his wife and soul mate, Mary.
Deceased's Funeral Arrangements : Funeral services will take place, Monday, August 4th. at St. Adelaide’s Church, 27457 Base Line St.in Highland. The viewing is at 9:30 a.m., Rosary at 10:00 a.m. and Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m.
Services being handled by Preciado Funeral Home.
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