Janet F. Walker Manning

DENISON - Janet Walker Manning passed from this life and into Heaven on Aug. 17, 2010 in the company of many family members. She was staying in the Homestead of Denison and under the care of Heart to Heart Hospice after a fall and surgery at the end of July.

A rosary service will be held at 6:30 P.M., Friday, August 20, 2010 at Bratcher Funeral Home Chapel, 401 W. Woodard St., Denison, TX 75020, with family visitation to follow until 7:30 P.M.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, August 21, 2010 at the First Christian Church, 800 W. Woodard St., Denison, TX 75020, with Rev. Steve Chambers officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Denison.

Janet was born on July 18, 1912 in St. Joseph, Missouri, the third child to Fayette Hugh and Theo Alice Walker. The family eventually included five children. She played piano as a child and was a self-described 'tom-boy'. The family moved to Smithville, Texas in 1924 with the MKT Railroad. She spent her teens years here and always had fond memories of dances. They transferred yet again to Wichita Falls, Texas during her last two years of high school. When the family moved to Denison, Janet came with them and began working in retail stores and the Rialto theatre until she became engaged and married to Martin Hagan (Bunt) Manning in 1939.

During her life in Denison, she worked in retail, real estate and even for an acupuncturist. She volunteered for her parish, St. Patrick's, and was a part of many prayer groups as well as for Texoma Medical Center in floral arranging. But what she enjoyed most was family life. She was never happier than when she was on an outing with any of her family, from going to dances as a young married couple or baseball games and dance recitals when her children were young to attending her 98th birthday party at her son's home in Pottsboro with all of her children and their families present. She will be deeply missed by her family.

Mrs. Manning is survived by her sons, Martin Hagan Manning of Denison, Richard Hugh Manning of Clear Lake City and George Patrick "Pat" Manning of Pottsboro; daughter, Mary Jo Freeman of League City; brother, Charles Walker of San Antonio; 10 grandchildren, Martin Hagan Manning III and Lisa Campbell of Carollton, Jana Badgett of Pottsboro, Jennifer Jones of League City, Texas, Matthew Freeman of Pottsboro, Walker Manning, Joshua Manning and George Manning of El Lago, Texas, Logan Manning and Brady Manning of Pottsboro, Texas: nine great-grandchildren, and loving nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard Street, Denison, Texas 75020. For further information, please call the funeral home at (903) 465 – 2323, or for an online obituary, directions or to leave a condolence, please go to www.bratcherfuneralhome.com