David Kent Manning

David Kent Manning, 92, passed away peacefully 7 November 2019 in Hyde Park, Utah. Born 5 October 1927, the 4th of 7 children to LeRoy Wilcox and Vida Erickson Manning, he was raised with love and hard work on the family farm in Garland, Utah. Kent (as he was known before his military service) graduated from Bear River High School in 1945 and attended Utah State Agricultural College for a short time before being drafted into the Army for a 15 month enlistment.

After meeting Marjorie Howard in the fall of 1947, Dave had no desire to date anyone else. They were married in the Logan LDS Temple on 15 October 1948 and were blessed with 53 years together before Marjorie died 22 November 2001. They worked together, played together and raised 6 children together.

They also served 2 LDS Missions together: Pennsylvania, Harrisburg Mission & Texas, Fort Worth Mission. We were aware growing up that Dad hadn’t served a mission as a young man, due to the draft and being the 3rd son in his family, but we knew that his greatest desire was to serve missions with his “favorite” companion (our Mom).

To date, there are 34 grandchildren, 66 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter, creating a posterity of 101.

He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Hazel Stettler Manning of Hyde Park, Utah; 4 sons: Glenn Ray (Deon) Manning of Garland, Ut; Keith Howard (Els) Manning of Riverdale, Ut; David Lee (Ellen) Manning of Littleton, Co; Marcel Kent (Shellie) Manning of Taylorsville, Ut; 2 daughters: Shelley (Duane) Carter of Holbrook, Id; and Nancy (R.J.) Rucker of Beaver Dam, Ut, a brother: Earl Manning and 3 sisters: Ethel Mae Firth, Marie Firth and Dorothy Pierce.

Preceded in death by his parents, his Eternal Companion, Marjorie Howard Manning; daughter-in-law Karen Manning; Grandson, Jason Wilcox Manning, and brothers; Melvin LeRoy and Glenn Erickson Manning.

Dad was wonderfully diligent about writing in his journal. He kept a daily journal from the day his youngest child was born. If anyone needed help checking a date or remembering the birth weight of a grandchild, they’d just give him a call and wait a minute while he looked it up in his journals. It felt like we had our very own “Information Please” on call. It was difficult to give up when his eyesight failed.

Dad knew how to motivate working hard because he was such a hard worker himself. He didn’t just hand out chores, he worked right along side, teaching us how to accomplish the task at hand. One very effective task was building a K.O.A. campground in “Dinosaurland” Vernal, Utah in 1965. For 8 summers we all worked hard and felt accomplished when we got paid for our efforts.

Dad didn’t just work hard, we played too. When the campground turned a profit, we rented a trailer and took vacations in the fall instead of summer. The grandchildren remember foot races with Gpa, pulling a fist full of coins from his pocket on their birthdays and sharing stories, jokes and walks.

He served in the community on the town council, always keeping up to date on where he was needed and when. He was a wonderful builder of men too. He was a Cub Master, Scout Master and Venture leader for many years and received the Golden Spike District Award of Merit. When his scouts brought a fresh rattlesnake to show him, he not only taught them how to skin it, but how to cook and eat it too. There was the time we cooked and ate Stinging Nettle, just to teach us how to survive in the wilderness. “You never know when we’ll be called upon to walk to Zion”.

Dad has always been incredibly friendly, optimistic and has a wonderful sense of humor. He was still chuckling at an old joke on his very last ‘awake’ day. He shared his testimony at every opportunity, even whispering it to grandchildren on that last ‘awake’ day.

We will miss him terribly for now, but know that just as he has returned to the loving arms of his sweetheart, our Savior Jesus Christ and all the loved ones gone ahead, we will be reunited with him someday as well.

Hazel has been the most wonderful companion for our dad. They said they married each other so that they could become better spouses for their eternal sweethearts. They have had such a delightful life together, laughing, bearing testimony and teaching our families. We enjoyed many a happy visit in their home in North Logan.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, 16 November 2019 at the LDS Tabernacle, 140 W Factory Street in Garland, Utah. There will be a viewing prior from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Interment in the Garland Cemetery.

We would like to express our deep appreciation for the loving service provided to Dad & Hazel by the staff at Autumn Care Assisted Living. Memories & stories can be shared at: www.allenmortuaries.com Funeral directors are Allen-Hall Mortuary, Logan.