William F. Manning

William Francis Manning, 83, of Hannawa Falls, NY passed away peacefully at his home on April 17, 2018 while under the care of his family and Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley. Bill was born on July 13, 1934 in Louisville, New York, the son of the late F. Robert and the late Vina (Dishaw) Manning. He graduated from Massena High School in 1953, where he was an All-Northern and All-State athlete in football, hockey and baseball. He was inducted into the Massena High School Hall of Fame. He married his treasured wife, Rita Jane Norton at St. Mary’s Church, Potsdam, NY on August 20, 1955. He served in the United States Army at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1957 to 1959. In 1960, Bill and Rita moved to Potsdam, where they built, founded and operated The Norton Motel on Route 56 for 26 years. They moved to Hannawa Falls in 1985. He work from Niagara Mohawk (National Grid) for 40 years, as a lineman, a foreman, a right-of-way agent and, at the time of his retirement, supervisor of transmission and distribution. Throughout his life he was a devout Catholic and active member of St. Mary’s Church, serving on many committees and in many leadership roles for the church and the school. He was a highly respected coach for Potsdam Youth Hockey for many years. He loved to hunt and to golf. But more than anything, he loved, worked tirelessly for and cared for his family. He is survived by his wife, Rita of Hannawa Falls, his daughter, Kathryn Lewis and her husband Craig of College Station, Texas, his son Mark Manning and his wife Mary-Jeanne of Dedham, Massachusetts, four grandchildren, Jordan Lewis, Meredith Lewis Zgabay and her husband Todd, John Manning and Olivia Manning, three great grandchildren, Clayton, Colton and Katelynn Zgabay, a brother, Gerald (Jerry) Manning and his wife Jan of Winthrop, New York, and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, his sister Elizabeth (Betty) Revai, his brother Robert (Bobby) Manning, his nephews Jonathan Revai and Derek Manning, and his niece Mary Revai McKarge. Calling hours will be Sunday, April 22 from 4-7 p.m. at the Garner Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 23 at St. Mary's Church at 11 a.m., with Father Stephen Rocker officiating. Burial will take place in the spring at St. Mary's Cemetery. Condolences, thoughts and memories can be shared @garnerfh.com.