Nippy McManus' Obituary
Mary Frances “Nippy” Kelly McManus passed away at home surrounded by family on August 2, 2020, after a brief bout with cancer. She was born in 1932 in Port Arthur, TX to John Henry and Adell (Hough) Kelly.
Nippy’s youth was spent in Groves, TX with her four siblings making the best of the Depression. In 1950 she graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School, and in 1952 she married Charles V. McManus after he returned from the Korean War. He subsequently worked for IBM and they moved often as their family grew, settling in Dallas in 1968 with four children.
Nippy was a homemaker and community volunteer. She had an adventurous spirit and wasn’t afraid to pack up the kids and go camping when Charles was tied up at work. She had a broad array of interests including travel (collecting rocks from each location), supporting her kids’ interests, gardening, clown ministries, and watching Nascar and the Cowboys. Nippy loved joining the Kelly Girls on their annual trips filled with skits, jokes and general shenanigans. Nippy and Charles were also enthusiastic members of Kissin’ Kuzzins Square Dance Club for 40 years.
Nippy was very active at Spring Valley United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Beacon Sunday School class. Nippy participated in the bazaars, musicals, Meals On Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Neighborhood Service Council, and answering the church phones, even as recently as this year.
Nippy is preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Kelly, her sister Zuetta Pinkston, and her twin brother Jack “Tuffy” Kelly. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Charles McManus of Dallas, her sister Nancy Frederick of Nacogdoches, her daughter Vickie (& Steve) Tesmer of Richardson, her son Patrick (& Tuyet) McManus of Anchorage, AK, her daughter Marilyn Sandoval of Bellingham, WA, her daughter Connie (& Paul) Clement of Bellingham, WA, 5 granddaughters (Sarah, Dana, Jen, Mallory & Mary), and 5 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled when it is safe to gather. Memorial donations can be made in Nippy’s name to Spring Valley United Methodist Church Foundation, 7700 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, TX 75254. The McManus Family is grateful for the love and support Nippy’s community has shown during her illness and passing.
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