Manuel E. Vieira, Jr. was born May 21, 1936 in the Azores.  He and his family came to America in 1949 by boat.  He always commented about seeing the Statue of Liberty and how beautiful it was. 

He met and married Mary Jo Botelho on June 7, 1964.  They had three children Michael, Mark and Melissa.  Together they started their own successful dairy business in 1968. Manuel loved celebrating and sharing his Portuguese culture, especially the Festas, crab cioppino, 7-Eleven coffee, delivering donuts to his grandchildren every Saturday morning, going to the auction yards and going to Pismo beach.  Family was his everything. 
Manuel is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jo Vieira; two sons, Michael Vieira and wife, Shelley, and Mark Vieira and wife, Rhonda; daughter, Melissa Whitaker and husband, Steve, all of Merced; two sisters: Mary Bettencourt of Turlock and Angie Branco Merced.  He is further survived by 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  Manuel is preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Georgina Vieira Sr. and his brother, Joe Vieira. 
Manuel past away suddenly of complications due to pancreatic cancer, he will truly be missed. 
A viewing will be held from 4 p.m.  to 7 p.m., Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Ivers & Alcorn Funeral Home, 901 W. Main Street in Merced.  A Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m., Monday, July 30, 2012 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with a Mass to follow at 10 a.m.  The burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Merced.  

In lieu of flowers donations can made to children’s hospital charities.