Manfred Lucas

Manfred was born in the small town of Kelsterbach, Germany along the Main River. He was an outdoor adventurer from the time he could walk. His first forays were among the forests around his hometown near the Frankfurt International airport. In the late 70s he worked as the First Mate on the Edison Chouest, a 180 foot supply boat running materials and workers to and from the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. It wasn’t long before Manny earned his Coast Guard 100-ton Captain’s license and began work as a highly regarded Tugboat Captain pushing barges up and down the Mississippi. Manfred embarked on countless outdoor adventures. Mostly solo, but occasionally with his two younger brothers David and Steve. He took them on trips to Switzerland, a Rhine River Cruise, or a simple overnight in whatever forest was nearby. He took them sailing, flying, canoeing, camping, mountain climbing, kayaking and whatever else he could think of to make life fun. Although they didn’t have a father for most of their lives, they always had Manfred. Manfred played the accordion, bowed psaltery, guitar, harmonica, and could sing and dance with great enthusiasm. His Lebensfreude was abundant. During one of his sailing adventures, while passing beneath the Deception Pass Bridge on Whidbey Island, his tiller broke when he hit a whirlpool. Without a tiller to control his direction, a strong current flowing and rocks nearby, he managed to grab a piece of drift wood that came floating by at just the right time. It fit perfectly, as if someone somewhere knew he needed help. He eventually traded his sailboat “Bobtail” for an old Grumman aluminum canoe, and paddled back to Port Angeles, Washington. There he met and fell in love with his wife to be, Gayle Secor. Gayle and Manny ran a catering business in Port Angeles called Creative Delights for many years. Together they catered countless weddings and helped create many happy memories. Manny was also a member of the Port Angeles Toastmasters Club, and achieved the highest rank of Distinguished Toastmaster. He summarized life with a simple yet profound philosophy: Let life be your religion, and face whatever task is before you with a happy heart.