This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: CAIN, MANESS, GOWEN, DECLUE, SCHWENDEMANN, GARDNER, HENSON, WILLIAMS Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/lNB.2ACI/3988 Message Board Post: John Edward Manes, Sr., was born June 13, 1931 at Kingston (Bliss) Mo. to Margaret Eller Cain and Roy Herman Maness and died Wednesday, June 29, 2005. Surviving is a special friend of 46 years, Blanche M. Maness of Cadet, Mo; three sons: William (Bunny) and Linda Maness and Johnny Mannes, Jr. of Cadet, and Steven Lynn Maness and friend Neil Macernie of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; a daughter, Shirley Geraldine and William Gowen of Bonne Terre; daughter-in-law, Idia Mae DeClue of St. Clair, MO; fourteen grandchildren; special granddaughter Melissa and Sean Schwendemann of Cadet; George and Angie DeClue and Helen Gardner of St. Clair; Jason and Tiffany DeClue of Fort Leonard Wood; Christina and Eddie Henson of Ste. Genevieve; Jonathan, Dawn and Sean Ware of Viburnum; Jeffrey Maness of Farmington and Niky Maness of Illinois; two special great-granddaughters, Savanah Williams and Hannah Schwendemann; 16 other great-grandchildren and 4 step-great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Charles Edward (Chuck) DeClue. Born the son of a local farmer in Bliss, John Maness, Sr., earned his early living working to sell kindling firewood helping support his family until he was 14 years old. He got a job driving a truck in local tiff (iron barite). He purchased his first and remaining family farm in 1968 where he resided until his death. He was proud of working on his family farm with his four generations of children and grandchildren. He was laid to rest upon the newly established Maness Family Cemetery at the corner of his farm. His family and his land were his great life's work. He was loved and beloved by many and will be sadly missed by all. May he rest in peace. Funeral services were conducted at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2005 at the Britton Chapel, Potosi, with Rev. Melvin Crider officiating. Serving as pallbearers were: George DeClue, Jason DeClue, Eddie Henson, Sean Ware, Jonathan Maness and George Tatum. Interment was in the Maness Cemetery, Cadet Route. All arrangements were entrusted to the care of the Britton Funeral Home of Potosi. Independent Journal, Potosi, MO, Thursday, July 7, 2005