Craig Norris Manning

Craig Norris Manning, 53, of Arlington, passed away November 14, 2022 just 2 days before his 54th birthday. He was a preemie, born November 16, 1968 at Arlington Memorial Hospital, to Donna Lou Olson and Wallace James Manning, both from the state of North Dakota. Craig shares his birthday with his Uncle Norris (Karlshrue, North Dakota), his niece Tiffany (Fort Worth), and his littlest grandniece, Norah (Bedford).

As he was born prematurely he was kept in the neonatal ICU for six long weeks. His brothers and sisters had to stand outside the hospital while the nurses rolled him to the window in order for them to see their new baby brother. Craig was the only real Texan in the family.

He graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1987. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington for a few semesters, but found he was more interested in fooling around with computers. His first computer related job was with the Daughters of Charity in Grand Prairie. From there he moved on to Xerox where he spent most of his professional life in technical support.

He met his wife Cindy Cooley in high school. They were married from January 1991 until December 2014. They have 2 wonderful sons: The oldest, Neil, is an engineer in Phoenix and the younger son, Alexander lives in Arlington, working and attending school.

Although Craig did not finish his college degree, he was a well read, interesting individual. And while he had very strong beliefs and opinions, as he matured, he was remarkably good at listening and understanding other points of view. He was such a sweet, easy going, likable guy.

And he was passionate about these subjects: the band Rush; Star Trek (how he mourned the passing of Leonard Nimoy); the Texas Rangers (he loved baseball and going to the games with his boys and his brother); and pinball: he loved playing, but he was also excellent at repairing and restoring pinball machines (a hobby he shared with his father).

He also enjoyed playing Friday night poker with his buddies from all walks of life, especially long time family friend, Tom Skeie from Minnesota.

Craig was the baby of the family and he was always being “bossed” around by his older brothers and sisters: “ Craig: get me this, get me that, Craig change the TV channel.” He finally got fed up with this treatment and at age 6 demanded “Why do I have to do all the work all the time?!”

Craig is gone too soon and his family will never get over his loss.

Craig is survived by the mother of his children Cindy Manning; his son Neil Manning and wife Laurel Enstrom (Phoenix); his son Alexander Manning; parents, Wallace and Donna Manning ; sister Colette Manning and husband Bud Mathias; brother Curt Manning and his late wife Darlene and their daughter Tiffany; sister Melani Dupriest and husband Don; sister Valerie Daigle; niece Crystal Wyatt and husband Aaron (New Hampshire) and their children Lydia, Jackson, Deacon; niece Ashley Jobe and husband Chris and daughters Naela Kaba, Norah Jobe; and his best friends from the early years: Todd Williamson (Barcelona), Joshua DaMommio, Tom Muller, Ben Moore, Mark Brown, plus many other of his boyhood friends; his many maternal North Dakota relatives and paternal East Coast relatives; he is pre-deceased by his cousin Barry Wangen of North Dakota and the recent passing of his cousin Mickey Olson, also originally from North Dakota.

To all his dear friends, old and new, and his grieving family:

Live Long and Prosper……..

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moorebowenroad.com for the Manning family.

For those wishing to send flowers, please send to Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home, 4216 S. Bowen Road, Arlington, Texas 76016.