Nolan Edward Manziel

Nolan Edward Manziel, 77, of Tyler passed away on Sunday, November 11, 2018. He was born on November 18, 1940 in Baton Rouge, LA to Bobby Joseph Manziel and Dorothy Nolan Manziel. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Deborah Lynn Manziel, and nephew Billy Daryl Pyron II.

Nolan graduated from Tyler High School and attended LSU prior to graduating from TCU with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. He remained a devoted LSU sports fan, a bond that was rivaled only by his loyalty for the Dallas Cowboys, which never wavered whether they won or lost.

A successful businessman on many fronts, Nolan was co-owner of Manziel Interests, working with his siblings on a daily basis. He was active in the fields of oil and gas explorations and operations, real estate development, ranching and investments. He was named as one of the Top Ten Oil & Gas Entrepreneurs in East Texas by the Dallas Hard Hatters. Nolan served over 15 years on the Board of Directors for the 1st National Bank of Quitman where he also served as a Director/Auditor. He has been a member of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, National Rifle Association, The Cedars of Lebanon and Hollytree Country Club.

Nolan had a heart for supporting his community, sponsoring numerous events hosted by the American Petroleum Club, The Cedars of Lebanon, East Texas Oil Men's Benefit Association and Sharon Shriners, as well as many others. As a devoted Christian, Nolan served his faith quietly. He was a faithful member of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, serving on the expansion finance committee, and he was instrumental in forming its Ushers Association, in which he served for 17 years.

An avid outdoorsman, Nolan was a founding stock member of the Tyler Gun Club, and was named Sportsman of the Year by Ducks Unlimited in 1984. Nolan leaves behind many lifelong friends with whom he enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, watching football and sharing his youthful fondness for fast cars and fast boats. Nolan had several coveted cars in his teens, and he was especially proud of having won the highly competitive Teenage Driving Rodeo in high school. Nolan had been the proud owner of various classic cars over the years from a 1923 Model T to a 1938 Ford Coupe that his son repurchased 30 years after he previously owned it. Nolan then utilized his unique skills of repurposing Ford motors for boating use to refit the Ford motor for his Chris Craft, doubling his boat's horsepower, making it the fastest boat on the lake at that time.

Most of all, Nolan adored his family, with whom he loved spending time. He was known by the younger members as DeDe, and he relished the various longstanding family gatherings throughout the year. His kind spirit and humor and enthusiasm will be greatly missed.

Nolan is survived by his wife of 56 years, Edna; daughter Elizabeth "Beth" and her son Micheal Nolan Savoie and wife Shelby; son Nolan Jr. and wife Kelly and their children Nelson and Gabrielle; great grandchildren Cayden and Paisley; siblings Bobby Joe Manziel, Norman Paul Manziel and Merigale Manziel Pyron, all of Tyler, Dottie Frank and husband Bill of Houston, Vicki Heath of Dallas, and Gloria Saleh, also of Tyler. He is also survived by 22 nieces and nephews, and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Pallbearers will be Brad Acree, Ric Freeman, Raymond George, Johnny Hill, Jim Keeling, RB Shelton, TC Smith and RK Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Ross, Ed Schaded, Chris Simons and Stacey Smyre.

Rosary will be Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler and a visitation will follow from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services with a Requiem Mass will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, with The Very Reverend Hank Lanik officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. If desired, memorials may be made to the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital via the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation, 100 E. Ferguson, Suite 800, Tyler, Texas 75702 or the Tyler Catholic School Foundation, P. O. Box 131175, Tyler, 75713, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105.