Gilda Harrell Manning

Gilda Harrell Manning, age 80, of Stover, died Sunday, June 8, 2008, at the Golden Age Living Center in Stover. She was born in Stover on March 14, 1928, the youngest of twelve children born to Maude and H.A. Harrell, who published the Stover newspaper, the Tri-County Republican, from 1911 until 1962. Although she taught school in Stover in the early fifties, Gilda spent most of her adult life in Independence, Missouri, where she was very active in community affairs and politics. She was a Ford delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1976. Since retirement she has lived in Stover where she has continued her work in community betterment projects. She is survived by one son, Thomas Manning of Stover, a niece, Diane Morarity and her husband Leroy of Cole Camp, a great niece Mechelle George, and her two daughters Victoria and Rachel of Cantonement, Florida, a great nephew, Dr. Joseph Morarity of Cole Camp, also other relatives and friends. Gilda was preceded in death by her parents and eleven brothers and sisters, Gordon, Phillip, Ludwig, Adolph, Warren, Henri and Myron "Hoot" Harrell and Clariece Washlick, Geraldine Daniel, Rosalind Balke and Maxine Rentschke. In keeping with her wishes, she was cremated. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, July 12, at the Stover United Methodist Church with Rev. Diane Cutler officiating. Inurnment will be in the Harrell Family Plot in the Stover Cemetery. A reception will immediately follow the service.