I think of Dave often. He was the kindest man. He was a good friend. He is missed.

Thought of you today and looked you up..sorry about your loss...we lost our youngest son recently....it is very  hard...hope you are  well...love jan

Dave and John at the Berry Road home in ’49.  The camera is looking Northwest towards the Nicomekl.

Dave and John in 1954 proudly wearing their Davy Crockett caps.

Dave and John and their grandfather's REO ca 1948.

Dave Manly was my cousin - born in April 1945 while I was born in February of the same year.  As is often the case with cousins close in age we were each other’s first real friends.  this friendship became lifelong - 75 years in fact.

The Nicomekl River (we called it the Mickle Mackle) was close by Dave’s place on Berry Road and so of course we learned to fish it at a very young age. What fun that was!  Mostly “bullheads” but enough trout to make a nice pan full most days.

Not long after Dave taught me to fish my family settled in Fort Langley where the opportunities for boyhood adventures of all kinds were virtually unlimited.  Believe me when I say that Dave and I took full advantage those opportunities!!!

Of course the years passed and although inevitably we went our separate ways we were always “pals” and got together whenever possible to share  stories both new and old. 

It goes without saying - I miss my old friend very much.  My thoughts are with you Lucy - you have suffered such a loss.




Lucy
  I just heard about David I am very sorry for your loss. Most of my memories are from time spent with David on the Nicomekl river or flooded fields. He was always building a tar and plywood boat that we sailed up and down the river. David , my sister Anne and I were out on a raft one day and got the attention of people driving by. None of us knew how to swim and that was pointed out to my mom so after that we did our sailing away from the road. David made a cannon out of a steel pipe , steel cap , large fire crackers and home made shot. He would melt lead into a bucket of water and get the best aerodynamic tear shaped shot possible. With it mounted to the front of his boat we set sail on the river looking for ducks. Found a pop bottle and at the end of the day we went home with all our fingers and the bottle survived.
  They were great times growing up on Berry Road in the fifties and great memories. Those were the days that a father went to the Army and Navy to by a surplus 303 rifle for his son on his 12 th birthday. Needless to say when the parents were away the pop bottle didn't survive. We had experience with bb and pellet guns and found out that you only try that once. Luck was on our side the grass was tall and the RCMP member was on the other side of the river.  Thank you for the memories David


David was always come at save on foods Willoughby talk to me many things like their LATE son warren  and when he was in Policing in Vancouver BC and war time stuff 

miss you manly 


love always 
Save on food Willoughby staff 

Hi Lucy,

Very Sorry for your loss. I met David in Sept 1955, when my Mom & brother & sister move to Langley. My mom went to school with David's Mom and both were taught my his Dad, whom I used to call Uncle Sam. It turns out he taught my sister, me & my brother as well. I haven't seen David since I left Langley but we han fun together as kids, got into a little trouble now & then. I will miss him and regret not keeping in touch.

jim

Thinking of you, Lucy, and remembering Dave with love.  
Sandy Harrison

I went to school with Dave from grade 7 til 12 and remember him as being smart but still a bit of a handful with his buddy Eldy.
My sincere sympathy to Lucy for  the loss of your dear long time hubby. 

Hi Lucy
So sorry to hear of your loss.  I remember you both from our high school days. 
those were some fun times. Then to run into you again when we moved here to your neighbourhood was amazing!

Dave was always a fun guy to be around and your Christmas cards were a great collaboration from the both of you.
thinking of you in this sad times.

We enjoyed Dave as a customer ....who always made a point of saying hi...and telling us a story or two depending on the day. He had a dry sense of humour...which you had to know him to get....always joking about chickens....at the deli...and his love of beef jerky. Dave will be missed......our sincere condolences to the family.....
Staff at SaveOn foods Willoughby 

Dear Lucy
I am so very sorry to hear of Dave's passing. I think of you so often and am sending my sincere condolences on your sad loss. 
Grace Mooney, Chilliwack, BC

Dear Lucy:

Our sincere condolences.  Harold worked with Dave at the Langley Liquor Store.  He enjoyed working with him, especially his sense of humour.  I, unfortunately, never met either of you personally, but thoroughly enjoyed exchanging annual Christmas cards and letters.  You both took turns producing quite an interesting and comical letter.   Your life together sounded quite interesting and full of caring and sharing.   The mention of Dave's illness in your last letter was very sad.   Take care.
Hugs,
Harold and Joanne 

Dear Lucy I am so sorry for your loss of your husband of so many years.  I know he fought a hard battle but now is at peace.  It is wonderful to have met you along your journey.  Take care of you and all the best in your coming days.

I was saddened to learn of Dave's recent passing. My first memory of Dave is from Sea Cadets in Aldergrove BC sixty years ago. He was senior to me in both rank and in age by two years.

I met Dave again in the very early seventies when I had the pleasure of working with him at the Government Liquor Store in Langley BC where he worked briefly after leaving the RCMP and before joining the ranks of the Vancouver Police Department. During that time I got to know and like Dave very much. I particularly appreciated his depth of knowledge on a wide range of subjects, also his outlook on life and his sense of humour. We did stuff together outside of work and I have Dave to thank for introducing me to sailing which I enjoy to this day.  I will think of him whenever I feel the wind in the sails.

I was welcomed into the home of Dave and Lucy on a number of occasions and have fond memories their young son Warren who tragically left this earth far too early. Such a devastating loss.

Rest in peace Dave.

Peter 

Dave and I were Troop Mates at Depot in 1964-65.  I haven't seen Dave since then but have good memories of him as a very young man. I am very sorry to hear from the other guys that he has passed away from cancer. It seems that we are having more health issues as we grow older. May he rest in peace.

We remember Dave during the last couple of years of Warren’s life.  He was an amazing Dad and a wonderful husband to Lucy.  He was so kind, so gentle and so wise.

My most sincere condolences to Dave's family. I had the great pleasure of working with Dave when I first joined the VPD.  He truly was a caring and sensitive human being.

I will always remember Dave as the one who could always tell when you just had a bad call or were just having a hard time keeping a smile on your face. There was one particular day when I was working the downtown east side of Vancouver and my partner and I came back to the station feeling very low and empty. Dave was there and all he had to say was Hey, you did what you had to do and you made a difference and made this place a little bit better.
He had a huge heart and will be greatly missed by all. Rest in peace my friend.


So sorry to hear this Lucy, I’ve always enjoyed crossing paths and sharing a laugh. It seems like yesterday that you both passed by my farm and Dave immediately wanted to know if I was a ‘member’, and still stayed to chat when he learned I was only  a firefighter. ( I didn’t know that Dave was ex-RCMP)
I worked with Dave’s old VPD partner who had switched to the FD and he spoke very highly of Dave. 
I will miss bumping into him in the old neighbourhood. 

I'm wondering if anyone knows if this is  the same David Manly who resided on Berry Road, now 208th Street, in Langley around 1948 - 1950 across the street, but near the Wilson farm ?  If so, I remember him as a childhood friend and am truly sorry to hear of his passing........Sincerely, Laura Pankratz (nee Wilson)

Always looked forward to working with Dave. He always seemed to enjoy his day at work and appreciated a joke or funny story. We played the mouth organ and mouth harp for hours and hours on the 5th floor. Your stories and Christmas letters  and stores of Miss Piggy will be missed. 
RIP Good Friend.
Your spirit will live on  forever.

John Hinde

I am very sad to hear of Dave's passing. I had the privilege of meeting Dave in 1990 when he was my VPD Field Trainer. I will always remember Dave as an intelligent, compassionate and humble man who had a profound love for his family. Dave's sense of humour was immense and his stories were sure to put a smile on everyone's face. Dave taught me to: 'respect all and fear none'.  Rest in Peace, Dave. God Bless You.  You will be missed. 

dear lucy,

dave was  a special friend and cousin by marriage. he always had interesting things to say,and it was always fun when he'd  shoot his homemade cannon on new year's eve.
dave is now with his son, warren. may they be blessed, always, in heaven.
he will be missed by all who knew him.
God bless  you too, lucy.
with love,
nancy and bob briggs

Worked with Dave in D4 decades ago, and noted he had a certain philosophical slant, tinged with a wee devilish manner. One day I asked him to pull into a 711, cuz the 6/49 was outlandishly high. When I came back Dave said "John, what would you do with 19 million dollars?" I noted a new apartment highrise going up across Burrard bridge, and said "you see that going up? Dave said "yep." "I 'd go to the builder and ask him how much to buy the whole thing. Then put the 19 mill down, and with an accountant's help, rent out everything below the penthouse, cuz that would be mine." Dave looked at me ,long and hard, and said " That was very unexpected John. That actually sounds like a plan." I somehow felt both happy and insulted at the same time....RIP Davey...

MR. Manly,  You will be missed! We thank you for all of the good conversation and wisdom that you shared with us over the years. Time spent hanging out at the Bug house, racing tractors, building forts and my son Jacksons 's favourite, dirt biking around the field. You always thanked us for sharing our sons with you but really you were the one enriching our lives. Thanks Dave. Rest in peace.

I feel so privileged to have met Dave and hear him tell me so much about him and Lucy,having met as children and the many years they had together.Truly they loved each other

I along with 31 other young men trained with Dave in Regina back in 1964/65. He was always a bright spark in the troop displaying positive notes even during the tough times of training. Rest in peace Dave.

Dave and I were  classmates in Class 4 BCPC.  I was one of the youngest recruits.  I looked up to Dave for his wisdom and leadership. I will always remember his sneaky smile and never ending stories. It was hard not to Live being around Dave. He made everyone around him feel good about themselves.  Dave there will be many stories told of you my friend. RIP

Dave was a Troop mate in "our" G Troop 64/65.  I say our Troop because most if not all have followed each other's journey since leaving training at Depot, Regina. We have kept in touch and met on anniversary occasions, sharing our stories very much like the siblings in a large family.  We came from across Canada and we were held together by a special bond developed over a nine-month period of intense training and camaraderie.  Dave was very much a part of the Esprit de Corps that was jelled during our Sejour together. We, members of G Troop 64/65, will forever cherish the memories and not forget the precious moments as we reminisce.  Rest in peace our friend, until we meet again, Buddy.  

RIP Dave.  The years we worked together at Lethbridge AB were good ones.  Many long hours and laughs.  It was an honour to know and work with you.   Condolences to the family

Dave, I will miss your dry sense of humour our conversations and yes even the show and tells you would bring to our coffee group. You grew from an acquaintance to a great friend. Rest in Peace

So long Dave - my best friend in training.  I will always remember your humor and positive outlook on everything that got us through our nine months in Regina.  

OBITUARY

David Ian Manly

27 April, 1945 – 26 July, 2020

Henderson's Langley Funeral Home

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