"Deleta was the kindness, sweetest and so beautiful of a person inside and out. My son, Jeff, is married to her daughter Karen who is so much like her mother. Deleta and I had a surprise from Jeff and Karen on one Thanksgiving when they were taking their family to Hawaii, they took us with them. What a great time Deleta and I had together! She had a great sense of humor and I loved being with her! So now Deleta rest
in peace, and we all know you will be that special angel watching over all of your family. Love you Dawn Pancottine
Talk"
In loving memory of
Deleta Jean Manning
April 23, 1931 - August 7, 2015
Deleta Manning, beloved mother and grandmother, was called home on August 7, 2015. She
was born on April 23rd to James Carrel and Beulah May Davis Bennett, in Clay County Kansas.
She spent her childhood in Yuma, Arizona and moved to Pocahontas, Arkansas in her late
teens. There she met her future husband, Aubrey Daniel Manning. She was 18 when they wed
on August 4th, 1949. They were married for 51 years at the time of his death in 2000.
In the early years of their marriage Danny and Jeannie moved several times. She often said she
had a gypsy soul. From Arkansas, where their first born, Carrol Wayne was born, to Colorado,
Arizona, and then sunny California. There, they raised their four children, Karen, Bruce, Judy
and Nancy.
She led a busy life, balancing work while raising four children. Her children loved sports, and
she was there to cheer them on at countless baseball, basketball and softball games. She took
her children on frequent trips to the beach, although she didn't know how to swim. She was a
seamstress, and enjoyed making clothes for her family. She was an advocate of DIY, (Do It
Yourself); long before it was popular. Trips to the library were mandatory. One of her proudest
accomplishments was earning her high school diploma by taking college classes and receiving
straight A's.
Her children remember how generous and kind she was to all her friends and neighbors, she
would always help out and lend a hand when needed. Her quick wit and laughter at situations
where others might fail to see the humor, endeared her to many. She was not above using her
southern drawl if it suited her, she charmed many with it. She enjoyed playing countless games
of Wahoo with her children and grandchildren. Her tireless pursuit of garage sales was
legendary, as was her singing, alas, she couldn't be stopped. She instilled a love of reading in
her children that has been passed down through the generations. Her grandchildren loved her
cooking, spontaneity, and how she could make them laugh with her southern accent. She told
them funny stories about her pets, and how much she loved animals; especially her two
Pomeranians, Daisy and Amy.
She was a devoted daughter, she remained close to her parents though-out their lives. Once
she took her father deep sea fishing even though it made her sick because he loved it so. She
moved her aging mother, Beulah, into their home in Perris, Ca., and cared for her until her
death. In 2005 she moved to Hughesville, MD. to live with her daughter Nancy, and her
husband, Gary, and their 4 beautiful daughters who all took great care of her. In 2013, with her
health failing she became a resident of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. Where she made many
friends. She will be missed by many.
She is survived by her daughters, Karen Pancottine (Jeff), Judy Moore (John) and Nancy Kelley
(Gary); 11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren; her much loved niece, Susie Edwards; and
childhood friend and cousin Clarice Hansen. Her husband Dan, beloved son Bruce and infant
son Carrol Wayne, and brother Glendon Bennett, predeceased her. Memorial service will be held on Friday, August 21st beginning at 11:00 am at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel, Los Banos,
California. Burial beside her husband, will follow at San Joaquin Valley National
Cemetery, Gustine, California. Her daughters' request that friends and family share a memory of
their mother at whitehurstfunerals.com
Tributes
"Deleta was a great woman and mother-in-law. She was sweet and kind. I too am glad she came to live with us for her golden years. She was always so generous, she would bring home food when she was out to share with the family, and sometimes cook one of her special recipes. She looked out for me and my family stepping in to help when she could. She always wanted to make sure I had nice shirts to wear to work, she bought me many. I enjoyed the stories she told of her life and the countless old western shows we watched together ... I wish we could have watched many more. She was loved and is missed deeply."
"When grandma was living with us, I went over to her house and watched Baggage, Newlyweds, and Family Feud. It was funny and fun to watch those shows with grandma. While we watched them we would talk about some of the answers the people had and it was funny. Another memory I have is when I was in kindergarten to like 1st grade. After school when we(Niki & Leah) got home on the bus grandma was at our bus stop to pick us up. When we got home she always said, "Home again, home again, jiggity-jog." And it was funny. But I love you grandma and you will be missed. -Georgette Kelley(grand daughter)"
"I have so many fond memories of my mom. It is difficult to choose. But, one of my fondest childhood memories of my mom was being with her as she put her makeup on to go to work. Our house was very small. Four kids two parents and our Dogs Archie and Patsy all in a 900 ft home. As the youngest, I kept with my mom as much as she allowed. She worked as a waitress at the Captains Inn when we were little. She and my dad had a very SMALL bathroom. Her uniform was white thigh high heeled boots, her skirt was red on one side and black on the inside and SHORT. She wore a white blouse that had some ruffles on it. I would sit on the toilet seat and watch her put her makeup on. She was always so beautiful and never seemed to know it. Her eyebrows were always elaborate. She would put her lipstick on and then put a tissue between her lips to dab off the excess. For me these times were so special. She would listen to me chatter endlessly and respond when I allowed her to. I thought she was so beautiful and was so proud of her..."
"I was lucky enough to have my grandma (Deleta) move across the country to live with us. This allowed me to build a relationship with her that I would not otherwise have had. When I was in middle school she used to come pick me up after to go shopping or take me wherever I needed to go. Eventually our roles reversed and I was the one taking her places. We always had good conversations together. She was someone I always looked up to, someone I knew I could go to with anything. Growing up is messy and hard at times but she was always encouraging me and accepting of my choices (from piercings to my short shorts). I couldn't be more grateful for the years I got to spend with such a lovely lady."
"I remember when I was younger, I would always play with my grandma's jewelry and admire her great taste. Anyone who knew my grandmother knew she loved to shop for jewelry, and that if there was ever a jewelry section close by she wouldnt be far from it. Every accessory she had owned had a story. Whether that be when she got it, where she got it, or how she got it. I never understood why her jewelry meant so much to her, but it did and that's why it surprised me so much when she gave me one of her rings. My mom and aunts told me she never gives away her jewelry, and that growing up she used to always wear this ring. My favorite memory of Deleta was when she gave me this ring because it represented our frendship and our bond. This ring will always remind me of the memories we shared and remind me that she is always looking over me."
"Grandma Manning was one the funniest and most honest woman I have ever met. My favorite memories were when we would sit and watch either "The Newly Wed Show" or "Family Feud" right after I got home from soccer practice. The majority of the time, these shows included sexual jokes which surprised my grandma. The next day she would ask my mother or father if I was "old enough" to know sexual jokes... I was about 13 or 14. Obviously I was clueless and continued watching those shows with her. I did this almost everyday of the week. Sometimes the both of us would eat ice cream or Popsicles while watching these shows... Our favorite ice cream was the drumsticks with peanuts on them. I miss those days with my lovely grandmother and I hope to do the same when I grow old and have grandchildren. I will always treasure that memory with me in my heart. I love you Grandma, you were such a wonderful lady to be around. Thanks for always brightening my day with treats and laughter."
"My Aunt Deleta was most precious to me. She accepted me for who I was and am. I will miss her every day, but I know she will have a special place in Heaven."