Essie Ree Manthei

Essie Ree Manthei, 82, entered into rest on July 3, 2010 in San Antonio. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. A funeral service is scheduled for 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at Memorial Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Kurten Cemetery.

Essie was born January 5, 1928 in North Zulch, the daughter of Henry & Cora Harding. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin in 1947 and attended Makinse Balwin. Mrs. Manthei worked as an accounting clerk at the American Laundry.

In 1951 she married the man of her dreams, Alfred Manthei and was a devoted wife for 44 years until his death in 1995. She has always been a loving and caring mother and grandmother. In her later years, she loved seeing and being with her grandchildren. She loved visiting on birthdays and was interested in what they were reading and watching.

Her favorite pastime was working in her home, flower beds, caring for babies and reading. She loved anything about English & American history, crime mysteries and ghost stories.

Mrs. Manthei was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Corina Sheffield, Ruby Fae Frankson, brother Roland Henry Harding, a nephew Clay Harding and a niece Carol Crawford.

Survivors include her children, Melissa Miller & her husband David of San Antonio; sons, Michael Alan Manthei & wife Cynthia of Waller, Richard Henry Manthei & wife Shannon of Robstown; sisters, Leslie Jo Crawford, Jackie Sue Watson; sister-in-law Sylvia Harding; grandchildren Carla, Bridget & Scott Miller, Kai Lin Manthei, Emily, Marka & Nathan Manthei; and numerous nieces & nephews.