He was born on July 6, 1925, near Melrose to Arthur and Kitty (Headley) Evans. He spent his childhood years on the family farm in southwest Cherokee County, graduating from Cherokee County Rural High School in 1942.
Manford was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He was on the destroyer escort USS Fair for the Battle at Okinawa, witnessing the Japanese kamikaze attack on the battleship USS New Mexico on Jan. 6, 1945. Manford remained active with the USS Fair reunion group.
Following his return from the war, he married Gladys Whitaker in December 1949. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 45 years.
Manford worked at B.F. Goodrich in Miami, Okla., for 30 years, farmed part-time on property homesteaded by his family and operated his antique shop until his recent illness.
He was an active member of Faith Baptist Church, serving as a leader in various capacities through the years.
Survivors include a son, Terry Evans, and daughter-in-law, Mauna, of Overland Park; a daughter, Sherry Brady, and son-in-law, Wray, of Bethel Park, Pa.; three grandchildren, Reuben Evans, Leah Evans Martin and Wyatt Brady; and two great-grandchildren, Beatrice Strelow and Netta Martin.
The service will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday.
Memorials are suggested to Faith Baptist Church or to the Chetopa Public Library.
Post a Comment