Frances Watson Manley's Obituary
Frances Watson Manley passed away on January 2, 2019. The daughter of Harvey Aubrey Watson and Frank Patton Watson, she was born in Memphis, TN on February 29, 1920. She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Manley Perrine, son Nolen Aubrey Manley (Frankie), grandchildren, Lauren Watson Perrine, Christopher Nicholson Manley (Christie), Jonathan Lloyd Shipman (Beth), and Jason Laird Shipman (Paige). She also leaves her sister-in-law, Mary Lou Watson, 10 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was an 11-year senior at Whitehaven High School having skipped halfway thru the seventh grade to the eighth grade. After graduation from high school in 1937 she attended Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University, graduating in the spring of 1941. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Mortar Board and President of Doris Hall. She married Leon W. Manley in 1943. They made their home in Whitehaven for 32 years. During their marriage he introduced her to travel, and she introduced him to camping.Together they made several extended camping excursions in Europe with family and friends. Her most memorable trip was with her older brother Bob Watson. They took the “Rambling Relatives Caravan” consisting of eight nephews, great nephews, great nieces, and grandchildren on a three-month camping trip in Europe. In 1976 she moved to Bolton community of Shelby County where she resided at the time of her passing. She was a life long member of the Methodist Church having memberships at Union Avenue Methodist Church, and most recently at Bolton United Methodist Church. She had a lifelong interest in libraries. She drove the Bookmobile for Shelby County libraries. She helped established the first library in Whitehaven. She served in a variety of compacities with the Friends of the Library. She was a board member of the Memphis and Shelby County Public Library, the Tennessee State Library and the Arlington Library. She was President of the Memphis and Shelby County Friends of the Library and President of the Friends of the Tennessee Libraries. She continued volunteer work with the Friends group for over 50 years.In lieu of flowers donations can be made to donors choice.The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 8 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. with the service to follow immediately at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. All services will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”.
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