Palestine High School Alumni Association

Dorothy Alice Davis Manley 1941
Born 10-08-1923
Died 05-02-2006
Age  82

Born October 8, 1923, the first of six children born to the late Strode Velton Davis and Lola Wilkinson Davis, Mrs. Manley went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 2, 2006. She will be deeply missed by family and friends until that Great Reunion someday in Glory.

Dorothy attended elementary and junior high schools in Palestine and Dallas, graduating from Palestine High School in 1941. Attended and graduated from Nixon Business College in 1942.

Dorothy and Q.D. (David) Manley, Jr. married on April 3, 1942. Mrs. Manley remained exclusively a homemaker until all three of her children were in school. Then began an extensive career that included being employed for several years as a deputy in the County Clerk’s office until her employment began as secretary/dispatcher in the Texas State Parks and Wildlife District Office, then located in Palestine. When the district office was relocated to Athens, Mrs. Manley decided to seek employment in the legal field and began a long career as a legal secretary, retiring in the late 1980s from the law offices of Ernest Swift.

As a life-long member of Grace Methodist Church, Mrs. Manley served as church historian as well as on various committees. She was an avid quilter and the Grace Quilting Group became like a second family to her as well as her friendship support group through several bouts of cancer.

Mrs. Manley was predeceased in May of 2001 by her loving and devoted husband of 59 years Q.D.(David) Manley, Jr.; their son Murphy Quinn Manley in April of 1972; a grandson Michael Quinn Manley in March 1995; her sister June Davis Freeman also in May of 2001; and by her baby brother Strode, Jr. in the late 1920s; and by her parents.

“Dottie” as her siblings lovingly refer to her, is survived by her aunt Grace Davis Kraus, and a first cousin Jo Ann Kraus DuPuy of Palestine, her sister Jean Davis Dickson of Palestine, sister Ann Davis Miller and brother-in-law Dr. James G. Miller of Tyler, brother Andrew J. Davis of Palestine, brothers-in-law George E. Freeman, Jr. of Shreveport, La., and Walker D. Manley of Palestine. She is also survived by her daughter April Manley Ogden and son-in-law John Ogden of Bella Vista, Arkansas, her son Strode David Manley and daughter-in-law Irene Escobar Manley of Garland, three grandchildren Noel Khan and grandson-in-law Hasan Khan of Sugar Land, Holli Manley of Austin, Jason Manley and granddaughter-in-law Kristie Manley of Brenham, as well as three great-grandchildren and many very precious and special nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Bailey & Foster Chapel with Alex Kobar officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Park.

In lieu of flowers the family requests remembrances be made to Village House Adult Daycare of Bella Vista, Ark., the American Cancer Society, American Alzheimers Association, or Heart to Heart Hospice of Tyler, Texas.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 05-04-2006