Story Tools • • Date of Issue: July 26, 2007 Obituaries Manuel 'Manny' Ayala Manuel “Manny” Ayala, 90, of Anna Maria, died July 15. Born in Havana, Cuba, Mr. Ayala grew up in Tampa. He retired from the postal service in 1976. He served in the U.S. Army. He was head usher at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach, was a deputy election officer for Manatee County and a founding member of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch. He served on the Anna Maria Code Enforcement Board for many years. There were no services. Covell Cremation and Funeral Center was in charge of arrangements. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ana Delia “Dee”; daughter Cynthia Rodriquez and husband  Joe; sisters Aida Velasco and Delia Suarez and their husbands Albert and Tony, all of Tampa; grandsons Joey and Ty Rodriguez and wives Tabitha and Sahara; and great-grandchildren Helena Blue and Bodhi Dylan Rodriguez.