Stanley Raymond Vasques

Stanley Raymond Vasques

Darling, Dad, Papa, Vovo, Bradah, Uncle, Stan, Vas

1944—2022

From a Grandchild's Perspective

Papa was born on April 29, 1944 to Frank Vasques and Minnie Machado. From a young age, he sat at the feet of the older generations, learning lessons, family connections, and the wonders of being a cowboy. He laughed at his older sister, Evelyn, like any brother would. She and her husband, Herb, love him fiercely and spent hours eating lunch with him next to their koi pond and canaries at the end of his work days, framing and hanging every photo of him and his family they could get their hands on.

Papa was raised on the sugar plantation of Kealia. He was a skilled horsemen. He shoed horses for forty years. He spent his life working and serving every community on the island. He lived his whole life between the mountain ranges of Makaleha and Kalalea. He worked his whole life, and his hands told the story—callous, skeddagas, cuts, "the horse been catch my finger."

We have been told by many that Papa could do anything—he was strong, tough, and built, could operate heavy machinery, fix fence, build, mend.

He met his wife Luci at a party. They exchanged letters for months. They were married on April 27, 1968, making sure to be married two days before his twenty-fifth birthday so that he could win a bet with Uncle Keoki—Uncle then had to buy all the beer for the wedding. Papa and Grama were blessed with two daughters, Michelle and Cherie. His daughters cook like he cooked and find comfort in the mountains like he found comfort. His grandsons and granddaughters work like he worked and try to love like he loved.

Papa adored Grama. He strengthened her and she strengthened him. They were by each other's sides for 54 years.

Papa embraced the roles of father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Papa was funny. "If you feeling down, talk story with him—pau." He was careful sometimes, caring always. He was thoughtful, kind, but always cracking a joke. He only raised his voice at mules and horses and hunting dogs. Papa was humble and meek, but proud of his family. He loved his friends. Papa always had a good story—the truths of a childhood with no bounds twisted with the Portuguese culture's ability to tell a tale.

Papa knew God and later in life chose to wear his Sunday best to church, with jeans, worn leather cowboy boots, and a bolo tie. Papa and Grama were sealed in the Laie Hawai'i temple on November 14, 2008.

He will be remembered for his pots of perfectly flavored beef stew, his shirts with three or four buttons not buttoned, his jokes, his smoke meat, his stories, his sweat, his hands.

In the early morning of June 13, 2022, Papa breathed his last breaths with family at his side, and angels round about him.

We love you, Papa. Everything we have is because of you.

Stanley, 78, of Kapa'a, and proprietor of Stan's Horseshoeing, is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Luciana "Luci" Vasques, daughters, Michelle (Greg) Vasques Gonsalves, Cherie (James) Vasques-Sarme; grandchildren, Makoa (Keapo) Gonsalves, Kekai "Kiki" (Joshua) Cram, Kahiau (Saxsen) Shiira, Alaka'i Gonsalves, Kolby Sarme, Kimo (Lauren) Sarme, Megan (Karl) Liufau, Melanie (Cliff) Cummings, Mason (Kaitlyn) Mendoza, Myles (Bernadette) Mendoza, Aubry Sarme; 9 great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn (Herbert) Garcia; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022 at the Vasques Homestead, 1737 Hulu Road, Kapa'a, Hawai'i 96746. Papa has always been a man of few words. To honor him, a simple man uninterested in formal events, please join us for a casual visitation at 5 p.m. Bring stories and join us for dinner at 6 p.m. We will be here all night.

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