Manuela Sanchez

Manuela Sanchez of Crane, Tx, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2023.        

She was born in Balmorhea, Tx, on October 28, 1931, to Engenio and Josefina Gutierrez.

Manuela was the youngest child of ten siblings, four brothers, and six sisters.  Early in her childhood, the family moved to Grandfalls, Tx, where Manuela attended school and met the Love of Her Life, Raul R. Sanchez. They were married in Grandfalls on October 2, 1955. After marriage, Manuela and Raul moved to Crane, where they raised their sons Raul Jr. and Eddie. While Raul worked at the Texas Highway Department, Manuela owned and operated Mack’s Drive Inn until she sold the business to Hero’s Pizza in the mid-’80s. Manuela’s life revolved around her boys, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a devout Catholic and a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Raul R. Sanchez, sons Raul G. Sanchez, Jr., and Eddie Sanchez, grandson Shaun Sanchez; parents, Engenio and Josefina Gutierrez; brothers, Simon, Mike, and Ramon Gutierrez; sisters Consuelo, Carmen, Trinidad, Tiodora, and Micaela.

Manuela is survived by her grandchildren Melissa Ferguson, husband Mike, Daniel Sanchez, wife Ashley, Crystal Sanchez, Adrian Sanchez, and her great-grandchildren Ike, Tyus, Brayson, Blakely, Noah, Rylee, Beau, and Tucker; daughters-in-law, Martha Sanchez, Twilah Sanchez Ward, and husband Buddy, brother Apolonio Gutierrez, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.