Marion H. “Sonny” Maner III passed away Sunday, December 8, 2019. He was born in Columbia, SC to Marion H. Maner, Jr. and Elizabeth “Bessie” Boone Maner on April 26, 1943. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Roof Maner, and his children, Anna Marie Woods, Wayne, Gary (Pattie), and Marion IV. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Felicia Cooper, Tori DiPietro, Katie Maner, Zachary Woods, Alix Maner, Charlsey Maner and Chandler Maner. He is survived by two great grandchildren, Indie and Sawyer DiPietro, and many step grand and great grandchildren. Sonny is survived by his two brothers, Rhett (Laura) of Jacksonville, FL, and Perry (Melinda) of Omaha, NE. Sonny is also survived by his loyal companion of many years, Gus, his pet dog.
Sonny graduated from Brookland Cayce High School in 1961, and entered the U.S. Navy shortly after his graduation. Sonny served as a radioman during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Sonny and Mary were married during his time in the Navy, in Columbia, in 1963. They soon became parents to their four children. After his discharge from the Navy, Sonny hired on with Western Electric (ATT and Lucent Technology). He retired after 37 years. He next worked with MasTec during its initial start-up.
Sonny was an avid ocean fisherman and bass fisherman. He loved to hunt. Sonny’s love of fishing led him to build his home on Lake Murray in 1972.
Sonny was a 32-Degree Mason and a member in Scottish Rites. Memorials will be established for the Shriners Hospital for Children and Walnut Grove United Methodist Church, 1335 Walnut Grove Road, Roebuck, SC 29376.
The Maner family would like to thank everyone for attending Sonny’s celebration of life, and for the gracious gifts of food, drinks, paper products and, most of all, their love during this time of great loss.
