Manuel Casarez of Lompoc died Tuesday, December 4, 2007, at the age of 56.

Manuel was born September 9, 1951, in Blythe, California, to Eddie and Lillie Casarez. His family came to Lompoc when he was one year old. He was an outstanding baseball player in Lompoc Little League and a wrestler in high school. He graduated from Lompoc High School in 1969. Manuel had been a self-employed roofer in Lompoc for many years. An avid sports fan, he enjoyed life, especially family gatherings and time with his grandchildren.

Manuel is survived by his wife of 10 years, Susan Casarez of Lompoc; stepdaughters, Marisa Fillipovic of Lompoc, Julia Heath of San Luis Obispo, and Justine Heath of Lompoc; his grandchildren, Isabella Alvarez of Lompoc, and Vincent and Cameron Hernandez of Lompoc; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Edward and Ramona Casarez of Lompoc, Joe and Martha Casarez of Santa Barbara, and Patrick and Julie Casarez of Lompoc; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Rose Casarez and Tim Roetman of Courtside, Arizona, Angie and Cornelius Estrada of Santa Maria, and Ernestine Davis of Lompoc. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and lots of friends in the Lompoc Valley also survive him.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm with the evening vigil led by Father John Fitzgerald at 5 pm in the chapel of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary on Sunday, December 9, 2007. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, at 10 am at the Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Mission Hills. Interment will conclude at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.