Chris's younger sister Patty and I met going to Sunday School  when we were both 12.  Her sister Chris (then 15) was so pretty & nice (& short next to Patty.) I recall Randy in a uniform, Patty & me holding baby Jonathon in our teenage arms outside the old house where they had lived with mom Burley,  her husband Ken & their brother Mike... Patty and I went  to college in different places but stayed close and updated on each other's families. During a visit to Spokane, Patty  took me to her niece Maria's wedding & I got to catch up with proud parents Chris and Randy and other family members. I knew when they moved to Odessa, that Maria was teaching in Odessa and her kids were playing in sports, daughter Cindy was raising her son close by, and son Jon (that little baby I knew for a short time years ago) was living in Post Falls...53 years later, Patty was visiting at my home when she got the sad news that her sister Chris had died. The last time I saw  Chris was at the wedding in Spokane, but she is forever framed in my mind as that sweet teenage girl that was Patty's older sister. I've faced losses, so I know the heartache of having to live without someone you love so much. It is hard, and you all will miss your sweet Chris: beloved Wife, Sister, Mom, Gramma, friend. My healing advice: Look in the mirror and in the faces of your siblings, children, & grandkids, pieces of their smiles  were carved from Chris' face, too. I hope you see that. Hug yourself or each other until you feel the warmth of her memory, her love tucked snugly in your hearts flowing out to each other. Though gone, her spirit lives on in each of you. Listen carefully as you dream and her laughter will spill out and make you smile. When you wake feeling better, you will know she is still close. I wish you peace & love as you recall someone who loved each of you the best she could. Someday you will meet again...Until then, tears will keep the dust off  memories of your time together & love you shared.

Chris had been my wife for the last 49 years. Everyone said we'd never make it. Neither one of us would quit. No matter how hard it got we kept going. Our favorite saying was the together we could accomplish anything. My favorite memory was the day we married. It Snowed in the morning and our church wedding was simple yet tasteful and love was in the air, We had rented a little bungalow above a garage on Camano Island. A bottle of Champagne was waiting for us. 

Visitation

Funeral Service

Strate Funeral Home

Willma Manley

immediate need

Death has occurred or is near

plan ahead

Pre-plan a funeral or cremation

Plan a Funeral or Cremation Default Desktop

Find Obituaries and Services

Send Flowers

sympathy and etiquette

grief library

celebrations of life

What to Say When Someone Dies

Show Your Support

Sympathy and Grief

obituary

services

memories

Obit Detail

In the care of

share to facebook

share by email

share link

Share Obituary

ideas and resources

Sympathy and Grief Mobile

OBITUARY

Willma Christine Manley

June 5, 1953 – December 30, 2021

Strate Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services