Manuel Meño Mendez

Meño met the love of his life, Adelina, whom he married in 1987 at the Phoenix Courthouse. Together, they had five children; Jesse, Angelica, Casandra, Nellie and Omar.

Meño dedicated over 30 years of his life to a career in agriculture, where he was a respected figure who managed personnel, handling everything from hiring and firing to overseeing the fields. He was also a familiar sight driving the crop trucks, ensuring everything was running smoothly. Later in life, he took on a new role at an auto auction, where he spent almost a decade driving cars.

Beyond his work, Meño was known for his love of a good bet. He found joy in sports gambling, dog and horse racing —anything that involved the thrill of a win. He loved to win and hated to lose. A savvy shopper, he always sought out the best deals in the clearance section and took pride in looking and smelling his best. He was also a natural host, famous for entertaining friends and family, especially for his birthday and boxing pay-per-view events.

Meño’s greatest joy was bringing his loved ones together. One of his favorite celebrations was his birthday.

Meño is survived by his wife, Adelina: five children, Jesse, Angelica, Casandra, Nellie and Omar; siblings Fernando, Marcos, Linda and Angel; proud grandfather of 12 grandchildren: Valerie, Janel, Marcy, Damian, Tatiana, Arriana, Jordan, Diamond, Jailan, Cain, Malachai, and Maya. He was also a loving great-grandfather to four great-grandchildren: Ameria, Alina, Devin, and Lunellie.

He was greeted in heaven by his son Ricky Mendez and parents Manuel “Chuy” & Dahlia Mendez.

A visitation will be held in his honor on August 14 at 3:00 p.m. at the Advantage Maryvale Funeral Chapel in Phoenix, Arizona.