Mrs. Bette R Manning's Obituary
On Wednesday, July 25, 2018, Bette Jo Manning passed peacefully from this life at her home in Gallatin, Tennessee, three days before her 85th birthday.
Born on a July day in 1933 as the only child of Joseph and Besse Reding in Tiptonville, Tennessee, Bette Jo grew up to be a beautiful and vivacious woman. She attended Memphis State University and was an active participant and frequent organizer of school, charity, and community events.
She married William (Bill) Manning, a dashingly handsome naval officer, in December of 1954. They supported, challenged, loved, and cared for one another for 63 years. Their son, David (Betsy) was born in Key West in 1956, during Bill’s naval service on the USS Bushnell. The family relocated to Nashville in 1957, and daughter Sherrye was born in 1958. The Manning family eventually settled on the banks of the Cumberland River in Madison, where Bill set up a flourishing dental practice and they raised Tennessee Walking Horses for a number of years.
A study in contradictions, Bette Jo was as accomplished in the saddle as she was in the kitchen. Her script penmanship was impeccable, but she was also passionate about new technology and the first in the family to own a computer. She loved a good party, but her favorite way to unwind was with a crossword puzzle.
She was deeply committed to her family and doted on her grandchildren, Brian Manning (Cassidy), Jennifer Batchelor (Jon), and Christopher Teague (Stephanie) when they were growing up. She never failed to record their favorite TV programs on the VCR, stayed up late more than once to unlock the next level of a Mario Brothers video game for them, and made it her personal mission to secure whatever the hot toy was that Christmas, including the epic Cabbage Patch Doll search of 1984. She sat proudly at every school event, ball game, and birthday party, and quickly forgave the times they shattered her coffee table, poked a hole in the basement ceiling with a pool cue, and set her bathroom trashcan on fire (all accidentally, of course).
Later in life, her eight great-grandchildren, Luke, Lucy, London, Finn, Nathan, Ellie, Asher, and Norah, brought her much joy. They all inherited her penchant for cake icing, and she loved hearing about their accomplishments and achievements. Her enthusiastic “I am SO proud of you!”, which was always accompanied by an enveloping hug, was generous and sincere.
Her stories, her laughter, and her delicious iced Christmas cookies will be deeply missed. Her family will be receiving friends on Friday, July 27th from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, July 28th from 9-11 a.m. at Spring Hill Funeral Home, to be immediately followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, her family encourages you to spoil and dote on the ones you love, as Bette Jo always did.
What’s your fondest memory of Bette?
What’s a lesson you learned from Bette?
Share a story where Bette's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Bette you’ll never forget.
How did Bette make you smile?
