James Craig Manning, Sr. of Crossett, Arkansas passed away on Friday at age 77.

He was simply Jim to those he knew and loved.  As a member and former lay leader of the First United Methodist Church, the Couples Sunday School class, the Rotary Club, the MFIC Investment Club, and the Salvation Army, the people he called friends are too many in number to count, but they are all better for having known him.

Long before he moved to Crossett to work at Georgia-Pacific, Jim was born and raised in Newton, Iowa.  He later became Captain Manning as a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, class of 1961 (“Second to None!”).  Tragically, he missed Army’s recent victory over Navy by one day, but no one should doubt that he watched the game from above and was delighted.

Jim devoured books of all kinds, loved history, and was very well traveled, spending much of his retirement traveling the world with his wife, Mary Jane Webb Manning of Crossett.  They went everywhere – Europe, China, South America, the Middle East, Australia, and on and on.  At home, he loved nothing more than sitting down in the evening and watching Fox News.

Jim is survived by his wife Mary Jane Webb Manning, two sons: Jim Manning Jr. (wife Gayla) of Columbus, Ohio and Mark Manning of Orange County, California, two daughters: Sharon Manning Deist (husband Karl) of Casper, Wyoming and  Keeshan Bell Crow (husband Norman) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and one sister, Jan Rubens of Savanah, Georgia, and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church with Dr. Russell Moore officiating. 

Honorary Pallbearers are Bob Vandiver, John Hollimon, Willie Washington, David Anderson, Claude Spainhour, Dr. Andy Gresham, Eddie Cheatam, Phil Gilmore, Justin Reed, Jason Sasser and Rico Mansfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to the Greater Crossett Food Bank, the Salvation Army, First United Methodist Church of Crossett, or the Imaginations Program at the Crossett Public Library.

Arrangements are under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett, AR.  (www.jonesservice.com)