Manuel Purcell

passed away on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at Martha and Mary Health Care Service in Poulsbo, Washington. He was born on March 27, 1948 and was 67 years of age.Manuel, better known as Big Mo or Coho Mo, lived his life by the four "F"s�fish, family, faith and food. Collectively, those were the loves of his life. In recent years he spent most of his time with the love of his life, Geraldine, and when he wasn't with her at home or on a weekend road trip he could be found someplace (oftentimes the Masi Shop or the buffet) drinking coffee and visiting with someone about fish or the Seahawks. He also loved God, his Christian faith, and was very proud that his family was a family of intense faith.Professionally and culturally, Manuel was a throwback to an era when Suquamish men fed themselves and their families almost entirely with the same salmon that fed their ancestors for thousands of years. It was in his blood�for almost 50 years, Manuel fished and fished hard. It was a sacred relationship�he also worked in the Suquamish Tribal Hatchery working to replenish the fish that sustained him. He loved the fish, loved to teach his children and grandchildren about all different components of fishing life, from hanging nets to cleaning fish to smoking the fish after they were harvested.Manuel was somehow even more devoted to his family than he was to his beloved salmon; he had a special and unique relationship with all of his family and friends and made time to visit with every single one of them. While he drove his children crazy with his teasing, they loved him dearly and his grandchildren would literally rather be at their grandparents' house than anyplace else in the world. His grandchildren know that Grandpa and Grandma were going to spoil them in ways that only grandparents could get away with.Finally, Manuel loved food. He was always on the lookout for some new haunt that had hidden culinary delights. He enjoyed sharing food�taking someone out and seeing the expression when they enjoyed the food as much as he did. He enjoyed life�there was nothing sorrowful, sad or regretful about Manuel as we was constantly around the things that he loved more than anything: fish, family, faith and food. Manuel was born in Seattle to Evelyn Purcell and (The Cisco Kid) and was raised by grandparents, Eli Purcell and Ollie Marie Moses Purcell Wilbur in Seattle. He moved back to Suquamish in the early 1990s with his wife Geraldine, children Neoma, Wendy, Gyasi and Sutah.He is survived by his beloved wife Geraldine Bullchild Purcell; Siblings Roseanne Hammett, Joe Chavez, Lupè Chavez, Armand Shorty Chavez, Lena Chavez, Frankie Chavez, Nicky Chavez, Jesse Chavez, Penny Chavez, Jenny Chavez, Steve Chavez, Melvin (Debbie) Colomb, Roxanne (Ted) Colomb; and many nieces and nephews; Children Neoma Bouré, Wendy Bouré (Jimmy Bouré), Gyasi Ross (Miranda Belarde-Lewis) and Sutah Purcell; grandchildren Veronica Guardipee, Romano Guadipee, Antonio Guardipee, Amanda Bouré, Clarissa Bouré, Malora Bouré, Victor Chee, Michael Chee, Crystal Bouré, Urieh Wright, Leslie Wright, Brandy Bouré, Likoodzi Ross; and great grandchildren Michael Grayhorse George, Cheyenne Damian, Malita Marie Bouré and Teiyanna Young. He is preceded in death by his Mom, Gram, and brothers Nicky Chavez and Ronnie Purcell.He is survived by a whole community that loved his stories, his conversation, his sense of humor and his faith. He will be missed. Yet we rest knowing that he isn't going far and will now watch his family, friends, the fish and the Suquamish Community from the spiritworld.Family and friends are invited to attend the vigil on Friday, September 25 beginning at 1PM at the House of Awakened Culture in Suquamish, Washington. The funeral service will take place on Saturday, September 26th 2015 at 12 noon also at the facility. Interment will take place in the Suquamish Cemetery.