Mantia Callender

Mantia F. Callender, 38, of Wilder, Idaho, went home to be with his heavenly father on November 22, 2011, at a Boise hospital of natural causes.
Mantia was born on July 14, 1973, in London, England, to Calbert and Eileen Callender, and was the eldest of three children.
Mantia was raised and educated in London, England. Mantia came to the United States on a basketball scholarship to play at the College of Southern Idaho in August of 1994, where he played for the Golden Eagles until 1996. While studying and playing basketball at College of Southern Idaho, Mantia met his soul mate and best friend, Rebecca Carrillo-Callender.
Mantia and Rebecca married on July 27, 1996, in Nampa, Idaho.
In August of 1996, Mantia and Rebecca moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to attend Middle Tennessee State University to play basketball. Mantia graduated in August of 1998 with a degree in Business Management.
Upon graduation, Mantia signed a contract to play basketball professionally overseas. Mantia played in various countries for ten years. While Mantia played basketball in Austria, Mantia and Rebecca were blessed with Marck Coffin who became their adoptive son. Two years later in Austria they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Jalen Nayah.
In 2005 Mantia and his family returned to the United States to make their home in Wilder, Idaho. In 2006, Mantia and Rebecca were blessed with their second daughter, Tamar Eileen.
Mantia worked in the banking industry for five years. During this time Mantia also coached basketball at Wilder High School and Greenleaf Friends Academy, where he currently coached.
In June of 2011, Mantia earned his Master's Degree in Business at the University of Phoenix.
In August of 2011, Mantia joined the Caldwell School District at the Caldwell Freshmen Academy as the business teacher.
Mantia was an inspiration and a mentor to many youth through basketball and as a teacher and a friend.
Mantia is survived by his wife, Rebecca; children, Marck, Jalen and Tamar from Wilder, Idaho; mother, Eileen Callender; brother, Tanni Callender; sister, Ingrid Callender, all of London, England; grandma, Christmas Andrew; grandmother and grandfather, Marlene and Conrad Callender; and numerous relatives.
Mantia was preceded in death by his father, Calbert Callender, and great aunt, Charlotte Williams.
A visitation will be held Thursday, December 1, 2011, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. A celebration of Mantia's life will be held Friday, December 2, 2011, 11:00 AM, at the Greenleaf Friends Academy gymnasium in Greenleaf, Idaho, with graveside service following at Wilder Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bank of the Cascades in Caldwell for Mantia's children.
Condolences for the family may be left online at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com.