Official Obituary of Kendall “Jack” Manis April 13, 1938 ~ November 6, 2024 (age 86)

Funeral services for Jack Manis, 86, of Dora will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 8, at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales, with Mitch Jones officiating.  The Pallbearers are Thad Patterson, George Patterson, Russell Anglin, Gunner Burrage, Cannon Burrage, and Wyatt Davis.  Honorary Pallbearers are Wayne and Donna Tivis, Steve Butler, Bobby and Dorothy Gresham, and Dora Fire and Rescue.

Jack Manis passed from this life peacefully in his home on November 6, 2024.  Jack was baptized at the Dora Baptist Church in 1953, and he was always close to the Lord.

Jack was born on April 13, 1938, to Leslie and Amanda (Sizemore) Manis in Eidson, Tennessee.  When Jack was six months old, his family began a journey from Tennessee to settle in Arizona due to Leslie’s health and the need for a drier climate.  On the way, they stopped in Red Lake, New Mexico, to visit Leslie’s uncle, Charlie Price, who persuaded them to settle at Red Lake.  Jack’s parents purchased a quarter section from Charlie Price and made their home there.  Jack spent his early years, along with his three brothers, helping his dad to farm and his mother to raise a thousand chickens on the small farm.  Jack was never fond of eating chicken for that reason.

Jack attended school in Dora until 1953.  He and his dad leased a small farm in Dora, and Jack developed his lifelong love of farming.  Jack also began journeyman electrical work in Portales, and at the age of 17 he worked with a company under the Rural Electrification Administration to bring electricity to rural areas in New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.  Jack told many stories of his travels to each of these places, including seeing the deserted Manhattan Project town in Los Alamos, which he described as “eerie.”

Jack returned to Portales, and in 1959 he met Georgia (Jo) Walker, who was waiting tables at Marie’s Cafe.  Jack and Jo were married on June 12, 1959, in Portales where they made their home.  Jack began farming for Claude Reeves in Dora and continued until 1965 when Jack’s father passed.  Jack purchased Manis Service Station in Dora, and he and Jo operated the business for 35 years.  They also bought a farm during that time, and Jack was able to pursue his passion for farming and raising cattle.

Jack enjoyed serving the community of Dora as a volunteer firefighter and later as an EMT for Dora Fire and Rescue for more than 30 years beginning in 1968.  Jack served as Fire Chief in Dora for ten years.  He was also elected to the Dora City Council and served until his death.

Jack is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jo; his daughter, Rhonda Patterson and husband Thad; three grandchildren, Rhianna Anglin; Russell Anglin and his wife, Thai; George Patterson and Kesley Kohl; and two great grandchildren, Liam Killgo and Salem Patterson; his brother, Eddie Manis; and three sisters-in-law, Wyvon Manis, Melveta Walker, and Mickie Walker; two special nieces, Shawnna Jones and husband Mitch; and Jody Burrage; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Those who went before Jack are his parents, Leslie and Amanda Manis; his brothers, Donald L. Manis and Terry Manis; and his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Nell and Charles Overturf, Jerry Walker, Bill Walker, and Patsy and Dewayne Bryant.

The family would like to thank all of the Dora community members who provided food and solace, as well as all of the caregivers at Interim Healthcare for their dedication to Jack.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kendall “Jack” Manis, please visit our floral store.