Mary Jacqueline “Jacky” (Trask) Manning
Mary Jacqueline Manning, 88, formerly of Melbourne, FL, passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2016 at Drew’s Place of Coldwater, MI.
No services will be held at this time, cremation has taken place. Arrangements are being cared for by Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater, MI.
Jacky was born July 14, 1928 in Burlington, Vermont to Paul & Eva Valentin (Lemery) Trask. Her family came from a long line of New Englanders, although primarily of English and Scottish ancestry. She grew up in southern Vermont where the hardy lifestyle of farms and the Connecticut River shaped her indomitable spirit that guided her life. Being the eldest of four girls, Jacky took responsibility to family as essential in her life.
Education was always important to her, even before her graduation from Windsor High School and eventually her B.A. from Windham College and M.A. from Smith College. She had also worked on her Doctorate at Michigan State University. Her professional career in Special Education started as a teacher at Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro, VT in the classroom, and evolved into serving as Asst. Superintendant of the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union, Lead Supervisor for Special Ed Services in Council Bluffs, IA, and finishing her career as Lead Coordinator of the Special Education program for over five schools in Brevard County, FL.
Jacky’s passion for children’s well-being and education was paramount, but her love for books, sports, music, art, politics, movies and travel kept life interesting. Baseball was Jacky’s favorite sport (went to seven Yankee games for her honeymoon), and would often travel with her children and grandchildren to baseball stadiums in different states, museums in different cities in the U.S. and Europe, but enjoyed her piles of books and jigsaw puzzles at home as well. Jacky kept up with technology and staying connected with all family members no matter where anyone was located.
Jacky is survived by her children Karen Buys (Dan Washburn) of Coldwater, MI, Sharry J. Manning of Brattleboro, VT, Thomas E. Manning (Janelle Warner) of Coldwater, MI, her sisters Marilyn (Royal) Houghton of Ascutney, VT, Pammelia Zimmerman of Windsor, VT, her grandchildren Sarah (Jeff) McKenney, Matt (Kate) Buys, Devon (Jamie), Kristi (Matt) Galliers and great grandchildren Sam, Jake, Jonah, and Lily McKenney; Caiden and Harrison Manning; Lexi and Ava Galliers, in addition to cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Rosamund “Buddy” Bedard and her former husband Thomas E. Manning.
Memorials may be directed to Southern Care Hospice or the Hospice of your choice. www.dutcherfh.com.