Biography

John Rex Manning, Jr., age 73, of Duncanville, Texas, passed away on December 25, 2009, after a courageous battle with leukemia. He was born on October 24, 1936, in Ennis, Texas, to John Rex Manning, Sr. and Gertrude Childress Manning.

John grew up in Bardwell, Texas, and graduated from Bardwell High School in 1954. While growing up, he and his brother, Reggie, enjoyed spending time at their father’s service station in Bardwell. John enjoyed playing basketball and played for Bardwell High during his high school years. On June 7, 1957, John married Elizabeth Kelley in Waxahachie, Texas. A few years after they married, they settled in Duncanville where they raised their family. He was a member of the Thorntree Baptist Church of Cedar Hill, Texas.

John’s career was spent working in the freight line industry. After working for several freight line companies over the years, he retired from Yellow Freight in April of 1994. He performed many tasks in the freight line offices in which he worked, and he performed them very well. He was highly regarded and well respected in that industry.

John’s hobbies and interests over the years included bowling, riding motorcycles, drag racing, working on cars, and watching sports on TV, most notably the Dallas Stars, Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks. However, his favorite thing to do without a doubt was to hook his travel trailer up to his pickup and travel with Elizabeth. They have traveled across the country, but their favorite place to go was to Fun Valley in Colorado. After their retirement, John and Elizabeth would spend most of every summer there.

John was predeceased by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Martha and Duard Kelley; his sister-in-law, Linda Manning; his brother-in-law, Danny Sims; and his great nephew, Jeffrey Fraze, Jr.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Manning; his three sons, Keith Manning (Michael Lindner) of McKinney, Texas, Terry Manning (Monica) of Midlothian, Texas, and Monte Manning (Jody Shafer) of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Ashley Schiller (Adam), Amanda Tierney (Nick), Haley Manning, Laney Manning, Caitlin Mitchell, and Emily Mitchell; two great grandchildren, McKayla Woodward and Jackson Tierney; brother, Reggie Manning of Houston, Texas; sisters and brothers-in-law, Burlin and Dorothy Phillips, Mike and Cindy Kelley all of Waxahachie; sister-in-law, Barbara Sims of Redfield, Arkansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John’s family would like to extend their deepest appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Fay and the nursing staff at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. They truly cared for John and admired him for his courage, character, and his jokes.

Visitation

Monday December 28, 2009, 3 - 8 PM at Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Funeral Home - Waxahachie
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Visitation

Tuesday December 29, 2009, 1 - 2 PM at Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Funeral Home - Waxahachie
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Funeral Service

Tuesday December 29, 2009, 2 PM at Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Funeral Home - Waxahachie
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Burial

Tuesday December 29, 2009, 3 PM at Bardwell Cemetery
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