Joe Henry Manning

Mr. Joe Henry Manning, age 90, of Mena, Arkansas passed away Monday, February 14, 2022, at home surrounded by family.

Joe was born March 28, 1931, in Alf, Montgomery County, Arkansas, to the late Henry Arthur and Jessie Lorene (Hughes) Manning. His parents moved the family to Hico, Louisiana, when he was about 8-9 years old to give the children better educational opportunities. Joe graduated in May 1951 from Hico High School in Hico, Louisiana. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951-1955 in Amarillo, Texas. Joe went to college on a GI bill at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana, from 1955-1959 attaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. He began his career with the City of Shreveport, Louisiana, as an accountant from 1959-1961. Once he moved to New Mexico, he worked for ACF Industries, Inc. contracted to US Atomic Energy Commission from 1961-1967 as an accountant, he worked as an accountant for General Electric for 32 years where he received various awards and recognitions.

After spending 32 years in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Joe retired to Arkansas in 1996 to raise Red Angus cattle on his farm once belonging to the Ode Maddox family at Pine Ridge, Arkansas. He was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Shewmake in August 2000 at Pecos, New Mexico, in a Native American ceremony. Joe and Shirley shared a love of Native American culture, family genealogy, and traveling the back roads.

Joe was of the Baptist faith and a Mason. He had many things which brought him great joy, especially trout fishing trips to Colorado with friends. Another joy for Joe was his love of working with wood and he built many pieces of furniture for family and friends. He had the ability to build anything from wood, all he needed was an idea. When building the house in Pine Ridge he and his brother-in-law used 10 varieties of wood Joe had been collecting for many years. Joe identified and collected leaves and bark from all the native trees in Montgomery County for a display at the Museum in Mt. Ida, Arkansas. He worked for countless hours repairing and restoring the Old Norman High School and the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church. He was particularly proud of helping to add a bathroom and sewer to the church. He also built the entrance gateway and fence around the Sulphur Springs Cemetery and has been a caretaker of the cemetery since retiring. As a younger man he raised and showed prize winning Weimaraner dogs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Newt Calvin Manning and Marion William “Bill” Manning, sisters Doris Mildred Osbon, Hazel Irene Napper and Margie Faye Cooper.

Survivors include his wife Shirley Ann Manning; brother Franklin D. Manning; sisters Dollie Bea Stratton and Rosa Lee Gilligan; stepson Arvis “Trey” Cannon (Gayle); stepdaughter Angela Smith (Steven); grandchildren Andrew Long (Casey), Arvis “Trace” Cannon, Andrea Michele (Long) Perkins (Kenny), Sage Cannon and Lauren Cannon; great-grandchildren Cayden Perkins, AvaGrace Long, Eros Cannon, and AnaBelle Long; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like to extend a special Thank You to Elite Hospice for their care, especially Keith, Janet, and Vicky.

Joe has been sent for cremation under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 18, 2022, at 2:00 PM in the Bowser Chapel with Bobby Rosson and Raymond Dees officiating. The family will hold a private burial at the Sulphur Springs Cemetery at a later date.

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Ethan Nahté

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