Manuel Rego Moura's Obituary
Manuel Rego Moura, 84, was born in Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal on August 11, 1940. He was the oldest son of Antonio and Virginia Moura. He attended school for four years to learn the basics of reading, writing and math which was common at the time.
At 15, Manuel began an apprenticeship as a shoemaker. He married Maria Celeste, mother of his 6 children in 1958 at 17 years old and became a father a year and a half later. A month after he turned 26, his 5 sons had all arrived. In his early 20's, he learned upholstery for the government and ultimately transitioned to working for the post office in Santa Maria. While working for the post office, Manuel started his own business on the side where he upholstered cars and sofas. In the early 1970's Manuel made three separate one-month trips to the United States to work construction to make additional money during his paid time off to provide for his family. While in Santa Maria, he enjoyed hunting rabbits and quail and fishing. After initially moving his family to Hartford, Connecticut in July 1975 and then back to Santa Maria a couple months later, he ultimately moved his family to San Diego January 1, 1976, where his youngest, Elsa, was born in March of the same year.
Manuel worked as a carpenter at Campbell's Shipyard for 20 years until it closed. He was then employed by Driscoll's until he retired at 65. He could make almost anything out of wood. When he wasn't building or fixing something, he frequently watched futbol (soccer).
Manuel's legacy is his family. Each of his offspring are accomplished and intelligent (geniuses if you ask Joe) in their own way. Together they could build buildings with all their skills and talents and have frequently helped each other over the years. Even his grandchildren are capable and talented with creating, fixing and building items.
He is survived by his second wife Maria de Jesus of 18 years; sons José, Eduardo (Rosemarie), Edgar (Armanda), Gualter (Stephanie), daughter Elsa (David), daughter-in-law Mary Anne, stepdaughter Ana, stepson Daniel (Monci), his sister Luisa, 14 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren and many other family and friends. He was predeceased by his first wife Maria C., son Paulo, daughter-in-law Noemia and half-brother José.
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