Madison "Jim" Manning

1928 - 2017

Madison "Jim" Manning went to be with the Lord 24 June 2017 in Bakersfield, California in the loving care of Hoffmann Hospice Home. He was 89 years old.
Jim was born 27 April 1928 in Oklahoma to parents Madison Rhey Manning of Georgia and Ethel (Harris) Manning of Alabama. Much of his childhood was spent in Buckeye, Arizona before moving to California in his late teens where he met the love of his life, Ernestine (Collins) Manning, on a chance encounter near Lakeview - a story he often loved to tell expressing the captivating beauty he saw. Married in 1948, they enjoyed 67 years of true companionship and raised two wonderful daughters together while residing in Bakersfield. Jim proudly served in the US Air Force and continued his passion for piloting planes throughout his life. Always one with an entrepreneurial spirit, he lead a life of doing exactly what he set his mind to and getting exactly what he wanted out of this adventure including opening the successful Jim Manning Auto Sales and Recreational Sales. He delighted in living life on his own terms and telling stories of his experiences, spending holidays with family, tearing open presents with glee, and laughing along to his own jokes; Jim and his stories will be greatly missed by his family.
He is survived by daughter Jean Tarpley and her husband Larry, his daughter Donna Gaeta and her husband Joaquin, six grandchildren: Michael Costner, Kristi Davis, Jacob Manning, Michelle Castillo, Nicholas Gaeta, and Lisa Bannowsky, nine great-grandchildren, and sister Louise Steed. Jim is predeceased by his wife Ernestine Manning who passed away 27 August 2015.
Services will be held on Friday, 30 June 2017, at Bakersfield National Cemetery at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to please donate to Hoffmann Hospice Home at 4401 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, Ca 93311.