Richard Mcmanus

Richard Lawrence McManus, was born February 27, 1926, in La Grande, Oregon. He passed from this life on January 15, 2020 at home in Provo, Utah, with his wife, Janet, and son, Bob, at his side. His parents were Elmer Milton McManus and Gladys Black, both deceased. He married Janet LaRee Cantrell on December 25, 1959 and they were sealed together in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 22, 1961.

During World War II, Richard served in the Army Air Corps, which later became known as the United States Air Force. At one point in his younger years he owned and operated a wrecking yard hauling wrecked cars from as far as Texas to Southern California on a flat bed truck. He loved working on cars and eventually graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His love of cars led him to participate in many car races getting so good that no one would race against him. He then competed against his own time.

He also learned drafting and drew plans for many homes in the Bay area of California, as well as drawing all the plans for a home he and Janet owned in Pleasant Hill, California. He worked as an Engineer for Standard Oil of California for a time and then worked for Hexcel Corporation. He was transferred from California to Graham, Texas, then to Casa Grande, Arizona. He took a new job with Wacker Siltronic in Portland, Oregon and retired from them. After retirement he spent much of his time writing books, composing piano music and drafting plans for homes on the computer.

When the family moved to Texas, there was no LDS Church meeting there. Richard was soon called as a Dependent Branch President and then as the people in the five counties began to gather he was called as Branch President.

He served as a Bishop in Beaverton, Oregon. For five years he served as a Stake Missionary and loved that calling. He was a faithful Home Teacher. He was a kind and gentle man.

He is survived by Janet, his wife of 60 years, and three children, Robert (Bob) McManus, of Payson, Utah; Milton McManus, of Beaverton, Oregon; and Terri Fawcett, of Santa Barbara, California; 17 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Joyce Collins and Lisa Parks, both his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Our sincere gratitude goes to Inspiration Hospice for the loving and tender care they gave to Richard, especially Kate, Brenna, Chaplain, and Alisha. We are so very grateful to Dr. Brandt Esplin, our Oncologist, as he truly cared for Richard.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at the Parkway Stake Center, 2801 West 620 North, Provo.  Viewings will be held at the church from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, prior to the services.  Interment will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.  Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.