Obituary for Phyllis Manley

Phyllis Elaine Manley, longtime Ponca City, Oklahoma resident, passed away Wednesday, May 07, 2014, at Shawn Manor Nursing Home. She was 81.

She was born August 4, 1932, in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Thomas Leroy Johnson and Vesta Crystal (McCracken) Johnson. She attended Garfield Elementary School, East Junior High School, and Ponca City Senior High School. She was married to Kenneth Lee Manley on August 18, 1950, in Ponca City. Phyllis was employed 17 years as a telephone operator with the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, retiring on October 14, 1977.

Phyllis was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Ponca City and was baptized there on November 21, 1948. She loved her family and all the family functions, watching her grandchildren participate in various activities, playing bingo, and watching Wheel of Fortune. Phyllis was known for her contagious laugh that everyone came to love.

She is survived by her son Dennis Wayne Manley and wife Fransesca (Fran), of Ponca City, Oklahoma; four grandchildren Katrina Scott and husband Chris, of Ponca City, Laura Hellem and husband Kyle, of Ponca City, Michael Gray and wife Callie, of Blackwell; and Whitney Manley, of Ponca City; and seven great grandchildren Todd, Matthew, Ryan, Greenlea, Dustin, Colton, and Caitlin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Kenneth Lee Manley, on July 19, 2007; one daughter, Debra Lea Gray, on May 5, 1998; and one sister, Wanda Joy (Johnson) Reiser, on August 10, 1994.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2014, at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery in Ponca City with First Baptist Church Children’s Minister Gayle Young presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Honorary casket bearers will be Chris and Katrina Scott, Kyle and Laura Hellem, Michael and Callie Gray, and Whitney Manley.

A special thank you to the staff at Shawn Manor Nursing Home, especially Mendi Palmer, Larry Freek, and Amy Arbona, for all of their love and support shown to Phyllis and her family.

God saw you getting tired,

When a cure was not to be.

He wrapped his arms around you,

And whispered, “Come To Me.”

You didn’t deserve what you went through,

So He gave you needed rest,

God’s Garden must be beautiful,

He only takes The Best.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer Association, Oklahoma Chapter, 6465 South Yale Avenue, Suite 312, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136.