Puentes, Tandra Manley

"You were the brightest of light in the darkest of places." 

Tandra Manley Puentes passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 
2010. She was born August 25, 1972, in South Lake Tahoe, Ca, 
and moved with her family to Reno at the age of five in 1976. 
She attended Reno schools and graduated from Hug High in 
1991. She most recently worked for Holland and Hart LLP as a 
legal assistant. 

Tandra gave herself to Jesus early in life and He has been a 
source of joy, comfort, encouragement and strength as she 
embraced circumstances that could easily be seen as 
insurmountable. She loved Him, depended on Him and He has 
been with her throughout her life. 

Tandra was a lover of life and of people. She loved to help 
people, especially children. She adored and loved her step- 
daughters, Melissa and Vanessa, who brought a sense of meaning 
and purpose to her life, and she was excited about her upcoming 
move to Washington to be with her sister, nieces and nephew. 

She celebrated life with laughter and joy. She loved to laugh, to 
see funny movies, to play games to be with her friends and 
family and really enjoyed being close to those she loved and 
doing anything that would bring her closer to them. Tandra loved 
to help. 

Tandra is survived by Janice and Marvin Neal (mother and step-
father), Steve Manley (father), Melissa and Vanessa Puentes 
(step-daughters), Fonda Smoots (sister), Daniel Smoots (nephew), 
Laura and Annie Smoots (nieces), Ricky and Gary Manley 
(uncles), Jerry Barr (best friend #1), Xavier (his son), and Marsha 
Filipes (best friend #2!). 

Tandra is now with the One who loved her best, her Creator, the 
One who gave us Tandra for a while - on loan! She is Home and 
is filled with joy and peace and the restraints of her broken body 
and the pain of living in an imperfect world has been banished 
from her presence. No more struggles for Tanny and no more 
pain. The Lord blessed her. God heals! However, we do so miss 
you Tanny. You loved us well. "You were the brightest of light in 
the darkest of places." 

There will be a viewing at Sparks Christian Fellowship at 510 
Greenbrae Drive, Sparks, NV on Saturday, January 9, 2010 from 
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Memorial Service and reception will 
follow beginning at 1 p.m. 

Published in Reno Gazette-Journal on January 8, 2010