Phillip Eugene Manuel

Phil a Washington native, born in Walla Walla and lived in Yakima since he was three years old. He spent almost 50 years in the same house now officially in Union Gap. That home he shared with his wife of 53 years, Donna Sue (Montgomery) Manuel.

Parents Vincent and Clara (Stuckle) Manuel Stacey had 5 children, and Phil was the oldest child. His parents and siblings (Clarvine, Loren, Jan, and Carlotta) preceded him in death. He is survived by wife Donna, son Jeremy and daughter Christina (Walker), grandchildren: Megan, Tim, Alissa, John, Ashley and Jackson, plus many nieces and nephews and family through marriage.

He loved the outdoors and cars. He received his first car as a project from a neighbor before his graduation from West Valley High School. Bonnie (a blue 1939 Plymouth) did not run and needed total reworking, which he completed, and used her for transportation and travel while he attended and then graduated from Yakima Valley College. Phil and Donna met while he/they were active at Civil Air Patrol. They married in 1971. ‘Bonnie Blue’ took them on many trips and adventures until she was sold to a family member.

His work history was long and varied with the focus always on the outdoors and vehicles. He spent time working for the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources, firefighter and later as a volunteer firefighter in Yakima. He loved working on vehicles, engines, and the challenge of troubleshooting. He worked as a mechanic at many businesses in Yakima. His joy diminished when cars became computerized. His health problems caused him a mid-life correction and he wanted to go to Alaska for a summer, that summer turned into working in Alaska three years! Those three years he left his high-school aged children and wife in Yakima. During that time away his kidney disease worsened, and he returned to Yakima and started dialysis. He was thankful for his first kidney transplant in 1989. That kidney was a great match and lasted 28 years (he described that donor- as a brother he never met). The medications he received to fight rejection of the kidney caused his hips to fail and he had multiple hip replacements and other health limitations. Then that kidney failed as they always do, and he returned to dialysis. But then, he received a gift o a second kidney in 2019. His health did not return as hoped and he faced a prolonged recovery and one health problem after another until he could fight no more and left this world because of renal disease and kidney complications on November 16th.

Phil was a well-rounded person who spent time out in nature and was a good friend to many. Throughout his adult life he enjoyed time spent with this ‘buds’ and/or family jeeping, playing cards and camping. Phil was always prepared to help, friends or… stranded travelers with his mechanic skills and maybe a part or two to get them going again. The last 15 or so years Phil was unable to continue with many activities because of health limitations. He would still help with tools, advice, and problem solving. Phil had such attention to detail, he would know where a specific tool or item was in the house and kept his last two old trucks working better than when he added them to his long line of vehicles. His last gift to Donna, while he was on hospice, was to help put all the final paperwork and documents in order and help her to plan for her future.

We are glad to remember a kind and careful man who made this world a better place. Please give all donations and remembrance gifts to the American Kidney Fund https://www.kidneyfund.org/ways-give or Camp Prime Time https://campprimetime.org.

A memorial event will be planned this spring or summer. Date, place, time and particulars to come.