Charles Grady Manley

Charles Grady Manley, 81, of The Woodlands, Texas, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 14, 2025. Born on April 14, 1944, in Palestine, Texas, Charles lived a life of deep faith, unwavering dedication to family, and generous service to his community.

Charles grew up in Beaumont, Texas, where his parents shared many holidays and vacations with their three boys at nearby Crystal Beach, eventually building a beach cabin that would host generations of family and friends for decades. He graduated from French High School in 1962 and earned a basketball scholarship to Lon Morris College before transferring to The University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated from the Business School in 1967. Charles came from a family with a proud tradition of military service—his father passed on a baseball scholarship to Duke University to serve his country in the Air Force during World War II, and numerous extended Manley family members have had distinguished careers in all branches of the U.S. military.

Upon graduation, Charles began a rewarding business career, serving a brief stint with the FBI, followed by an early career move to Dallas to work for Gifford-Hill Industries. He was soon recruited to the oil patch and moved his young family to Houston in 1972. He started at Panhandle Eastern Petroleum, later joining their oil and gas spin-off, Anadarko Petroleum. Over 30 years, Charles rose through the ranks, ultimately retiring as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Anadarko in 2004. During his tenure, he maintained responsibilities for numerous lines of business and operations that spanned the globe. Notably, he led the development of the tallest owner-occupied office towers at the time in their respective locations—North Houston Business Park and The Woodlands. He later returned to his alma mater as a guest lecturer at the McCombs School of Business, sharing his expertise with the next generation of business leaders.

Throughout his life, Charles answered the call to serve in leadership roles across educational institutions that shaped young minds and hearts. He served as Board Chair of Landmark College and as a member of the Board of Regents for both Lone Star College and Frassati High School.

Charles met the love of his life, Linda, on a blind date in Colorado. They were wed on June 6, 1964, in Colorado Springs, where Linda had spent her school years, and honeymooned at the Broadmoor Resort. Linda immediately followed Charles to Austin for his final year at the University, beginning a love story that would span 61 years. Never leaving their love of Colorado behind, the family later purchased a home in Colorado, where they hosted countless holidays and treasured family gatherings for decades.

A man of boundless energy and devotion, Charles rarely missed a single sporting event throughout his children's athletic careers, traveling near and far to cheer them on. His passion for youth sports extended beyond the sidelines—as a Class C credentialed soccer coach, he coached multiple competitive teams at the high school level, instilling in young athletes the values of dedication, teamwork, and perseverance. A number of his student athletes went on to play soccer at the collegiate level, including both of his sons.

Earlier in his life, Charles was active in numerous civic and charitable boards, with a particular passion for serving on the Houston Grand Opera Board of Trustees. A devoted patron of the Arts, he took particular joy in supporting the opera and treasured the countless performances he attended over the years, especially those featuring members of his family. In the most recent years of his life, he shared his time and treasure with numerous charitable organizations, including Family Focus, Montgomery County Women's Center, That Man is You, Word on Fire, Dynamic Catholic, Augustine Institute and ACTS Missions.

Charles maintained a lifelong love of the outdoors, with particular passions for golf, tennis, hiking, snow skiing, and hunting. Well into his adult life and business career, he developed a love of hunting on some of the storied Texas ranches. He cherished the time he spent with close and extended family at the family's Round Top Ranch and was planning yet another family hunting excursion even in his final days, forever the gatherer of his loved ones.

Diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 19 years old, Charles worked diligently throughout his life to manage his condition with discipline and care. His commitment to taking the best possible care of his health was a true gift to his family and all those who loved him, allowing him to be fully present for every moment of their lives together.

Above all, Charles loved the Lord and exemplified that love throughout his entire life. His faith deepened with each passing year, manifested in his devotion to attending daily Mass for countless years and his leadership of Bible study groups, which he continued until the final weeks of his life. He was particularly fond of the weekly 6:00 a.m. devotional group, affectionately referred to as The Bagel Boys, meeting with them for many years. He was an active and beloved member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aspen, Colorado.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Gradie Manley. He is survived by his two younger brothers, Johnny and Michael; his devoted wife of 61 years, Linda Manley; his five children: Jeffrey Manley and his wife Donette; Stephanie Ercolani and her husband Darren; Stephen Manley and his wife Jennifer; Julie Manley; and Leslie Haddock and her husband Chad; grandchildren: Allyson, and her husband Will, Jacquelyn, and her husband Luis, Ryan and his wife Katie, Jacob, Lauren, Payne, Jamie, Tanner, Brooke, Alaina, Meghan, Elliott, Sam, Nathan, and Anderson; great-grandchildren: Elliot, Oliver, Ford, Grace, Luis Mateo and Jack.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Forest Park - The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery, 18000 I-45 South, The Woodlands, Texas 77384, immediately followed by a Rosary and Vigil Service from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 7801 Bay Branch Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77382, with Fr. Jesse Garcia officiating.

Interment will follow at Forest Park - The Woodlands Cemetery for family only.

The family wishes to express their immense gratitude to Devotion Hospice and Caring Senior Services of The Woodlands, especially Logan and Christine, and to the amazing doctors and nurses at the Larry D. Johnson Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute for their herculean support.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Charles's generous spirit and humble passion by doing something he did throughout his life—choose a person or a family in need and share your support with them.