Manuel J. Leal of E. Taunton passed away on November 25th, he was 83 years old. Mr. Leal is survived by his wife of 61 years Gloria (Araujo) Leal. He is the beloved father of Daniel J. Leal and Helen Leal both of E. Taunton. Manuel is a proud grandfather of 5 and great grandfather of 6. Mr. Leal leaves behind his brothers Albert Leal of Taunton and Frank Vieira of Berkley and his sister Lucille McGaughran of Taunton. He was predeceased by his brother the late Arthur Leal.
Manuel was born on December 22, 1928 in Dighton, son of the late Manuel S. and Helen (Content) Leal. Mr. Leal spent most of his life in Taunton and was educated in the Taunton School System. He accomplished so much in his 83 years. His family owned and operated their farm since 1928, which he purchased from his father in 1951. He successfully ran a minnow farm. Due to his knowledge of water, Manuel was once offered to be a consultant for the Oceanographic Institute at Woods Hole, which he turned down. In 1992 Mr. Leal and his son Daniel saved the life of a pilot and his student pilot after a plane crashed into the family home and landed in a pond. The family would go on to convert the farm into cranberry bogs in 1995.
As an avid sportsman, Mr. Leal enjoyed fishing, especially ice fishing. He was an avid bow hunter and invented and patented the Leal’s Archery Bow sight in the United States and Canada. Manuel was a member of the Massachusetts Bow Hunters association and the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association. Mr. Leal’s family proudly says that Manuel could, “do it all.” He was a talented mason and operated heavy equipment and machinery in the construction field. He also raised and trained black Labrador retrievers. Mr. Leal later became a custodian at Beckwith Middle School in Dighton-Rehoboth before retiring.
All Services for Mr. Leal will be private. Arrangements are under the guidance of Taunton Funeral Home 8 Crapo St. Taunton, MA 02780. Online Condolences may be made at www.tauntonfuneral.com