Jake Manzanares

In his youth, music was an instrumental part of the Manzanares home. Jake fell in love with music from a very young age. In high school, he loved playing his horn so much he started a band with his siblings called the Starlights.

Jake was stationed in Berlin, Germany while serving in the 298th Army Band from 1960 to 1963. After his years in military service, he attended the University of Oklahoma to complete his Doctorate in Music Education in 1969. Shortly after finishing his PhD he began the Music Therapy Program at Griffin Memorial Hospital. He received his certification as a Registered Music Therapist in October of 1979 and spent the next 30 years caring for his patients and the entire Griffin Memorial community with care, compassion and joy.

Jake is known for many things, the most notable being that anyone who meets him understands immediately how special of a person he is. He is kind, generous, and excitable. He grows an amazing garden. He can throw together a quick project that ends up being a pizza making chiminea or a wall sized collage of every picture he has taken of you. Jake is a person who saw joy, beauty, and possibility in every little thing.

He was a strong member of the University Lutheran Church for much of his adult life. Singing in the choir, playing his clarinet, and supporting members of the church in their time of need.

Jake married Sandra Mappes on September 10, 1969. Together they raised three daughters, Ariana, Marissa, and Ramona. Although the marriage did not last, they were still good friends until Jake’s passing.

Jake is preceded in death by his parents, brother Horace Manzanares, and niece Ashley.

Those left to cherish Jake’s memory are his children Ariana Manzanares-Brown of Norman, Oklahoma; Marissa Katherine Manzanares and husband Ben Curtis of Brooklyn, New York; and Ramona Andrea Manzanares of Norman, Oklahoma; brother Donald Manzanares of Albuquerque, New Mexico; sister Francis Payne of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Sister Victoria Sullivan and husband Jack Sullivan of Santa Fe, New Mexico; sister Rosina Ranson of Suisan City, California; grandchildren Bailey Brown, Mia Brown, and Isaac Curtis; nieces Vicki, Melissa, Erika, and Lisa; nephews Donny, Patrick, and Aaron; and a host of friends and extended family.

A memorial service will be held on August 23, 2024 at 1 PM, located at University Lutheran Church, located at 914 Elm Ave, Norman, OK, 73072. Final Inurnment will take place on September 26, 2024 at 11 AM at Santa Fe National Cemetery, located at

501 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501.