MANNING, JR., JOE WILEY, born on the 7th of April 1919, in
Greenville, Texas, passed away on the 20th of April 2010, in Houston, Texas at
the age of 91.The son of Joe Wiley Manning and Faye Carsey, he graduated from
Greenville High School, where he was the manager of the Flaming Flashes. In
junior high school, he was the recipient of the American Legion Award, based on
honor, courage, leadership, service and scholarship.
As a young man, he learned
the importance of salesmanship and good customer service while working at his
family's service station. He briefly attended East Texas State Teachers College
in Commerce (now Texas A&M) before leaving to take a job in Houston as a
diesel engine salesman for C. Jim Stewart & Stevenson in 1938. He was
fortunate to have as mentors his grandfather, John Milton Carsey, his father,
Joe Manning, Sr. and Mr. Ross Stewart.
By 1940 he was the General Manager of the
Diesel Engine Division, which later became Stewart & Stevenson Services,
Inc. Under his leadership, the company became known as the world's largest
distributor of diesel engines. During World War II, he directed the company's
operations building equipment utilized in the war effort and retired in 1985 as
President and CEO.
In early 1940, he met Norma Jean Brecheen of Commerce at a
DeMolay dance. They were married on the 7th of June 1942 in Commerce, and
settled in the Houston area, residing in Bellaire from 1946 to 1973 at the
Windy Acres. There they had the good fortune to employ a wonderful and dear
couple, Verna and Sam Johnson, who became part of the family and helped to
raise their children.
Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing and his family. Above all, he
loved his family and his country; he was a true patriot. He was predeceased by his parents, his
brother J. Carsey Manning, his brothers-in-law Emil D. Joost and John Cameron
Brecheen; sisters-in-law Barbara Tengg Manning and Nancy Brecheen Grant, and
many special cousins. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Norma, and his
four children and their families: Nancy Cameron Reese and husband, H. Douglas
III; Joe Manning IV and wife, Clair Clark, Molly Carpenter and husband, James
Douglas of Fort Worth, and Jim Lindsey Manning of Austin. Joe leaves behind his
grandchildren, Douglas Manning Reese, Dr. Ava Erin Manning and her husband,
Frank Verducci; Molly Elizabeth Reese and her husband, Wesley Ward; Heidi Jean
Manning and her husband, Kendall Archer, Allison Ann Carpenter and her husband,
Pete Yoder; Joe W. Manning V; and Mary Katherine "Katie" Carpenter
and her husband, Jeff Wilson; great-grandchildren Madeline, Abigail, Luke and
Lucy Archer; Lily, Ava and Wylie Ward; Jack and Nick Verducci; Will Yoder; and
Carsey Wilson. He is also survived by his sister, Cynthia Manning Joost, his
sister-in-law Ava Brecheen Duncan; numerous beloved nieces, nephews and
cousins; lifelong friend Dick Conolly of Corpus Christi and special friends
Tyanna Jones and Lenore Lockett.
