1960-2026
Manuel Esidro Tapia Jr.
Manuel Esidro Tapia Jr. was born in Portales, New Mexico on October 9, 1960. He passed peacefully on April 15, 2026. Manuel is preceded in death by his grandparents Felipe & Demecia Chavez y Chavez and Esabel and Rufina Tapia, parents Manuel Esidro Tapia Sr. & Pauline Tapia, brother Richard Tapia and sister inlaw Teresa Tapia, and brother in-law Johnny Zamora.
He is survived by his daughter Amber Tapia (Burleson, TX), son Anthony Tapia (Grants), their mother Dottie Gifford (Bluewater, NM), two grandchildren Jasmine Corpus and Dominic Apodaca, his two sisters Patricia Zamora (Grants, NM), Joanne Trujillo and husband Nelson Trujillo (Grants), two nieces Shannon Llanas (Tapia) and husband Carlos Llanas (Albuquerque), Kassandra Trujillo (Milan, NM) great niece and nephews Demecia, Angel and William, three nephews Justin Zamora (Durango, CO), Jonathon Zamora and wife Savannah Zamora (Grants, NM), Eugene Tapia (Albuquerque), Great Aunt Toni Tabor (Albuquerque), numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Manuel was a very joyful and friendly person. He enjoyed listening to music; hard rock was his favorite. He also enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting. He loved to cook, especially outdoors. He loved to ride his bike alongside his dog and best friend, Spanky. Manuel was well known for working on vehicles and plumbing after he took over for his dad. Most of his work was being a cook at Chief’s Rancho Restaurant, Iron Skillet Restaurant (Petro), Baker’s Hearth Restaurant (Giant), Bluewater Truckstop, New Mexico Steakhouse, and La Venta Steakhouse. Over the years he gained many friends starting at a young age.
Services for Manuel will be held be held at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Grants, NM on June 9, 2026. Rosery will be held at 9:30 a.m. and mass will be at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Grants Memorial Cemetery following the mass where he will be laid to rest. Pallbearers are Engel Trujillo, Todd McBride, Justin Zamora, Jonathon Zamora, Nelson Trujillo and Honorary Pallbearer– Anthony Tapia.