LaVerne Faye (Lester) Manning

LaVerne “Vernie” Faye Manning, 74, went to be with the LORD on Saturday, March 2, 2024. She was born December 29, 1949 in Nolan, West Virginia to mother Carrie C. Lester (Harrison), who survives, and father Julius L. Lester. They moved to Indiana in LaVerne’s teen years and resided in Whiteland where they raised their family including one sister, Carrie Mae Lester, who also survives, and where LaVerne graduated from Whiteland High School.

She began working at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin where she met her future husband David Z. Manning. They married June 22, 1969 and lived in Brown County, where they raised two children, a daughter Laura S. Brennan (husband Jon), and son James C. Manning (fiancée Christin). They were married 47 years until Dave preceded her in death in 2016.

Through the years LaVerne worked in nursing homes and long-term care facilities where she felt blessed to care for people as if they were her family. In that time, she worked for Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin Indiana, retiring in 2015. She touched many lives and truly loved people. Her contagious smile and joyful heart was truly a blessing to anyone who was fortunate to meet her or spend time with her. Many described her as the sweetest person you’ll ever meet.

She was a member of Cottonwood Christian Church in Morgantown, Indiana, where she loved to spend time with her church family and participate in church functions, particularly she had a passion for working with the children’s programs and singing in the choir. She also loved listening to music and loved to dance.

LaVerne is also survived by her children, four grandchildren Brandon Hopkins, Kayla Brennan, Michael Brennan and Maikala Casady, and one great grandchild CharlieLou Brennan, who brought her great joy. She was preceded in death by one great grandchild Brennan Williams.

Rev. Darrel Miller will conduct a funeral service at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6th at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home: 179 E. Mulberry Street in Morgantown, Indiana. Friends may call from 12 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at East Hill Cemetery in Morgantown.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association: act.alz.org

Condolences may be sent to the family at meredith-clark.com

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