Walking On -- Charlene R. McManis

Charlene R. McManis

Aug. 22, 1953 – May 1, 2018

Tribal Elder Charlene Rose (Willing) McManis, 64, of Worcester, Vt., walked on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at her home surrounded by family.

She was born in Portland, Ore., the daughter of Charles S. and Kathleen (Sarmento) Willing on Aug. 22, 1953. She was a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

She graduated from Inglewood High School in Inglewood, Calif., in the Class of 1971. After graduating, Charlene worked in banking. She then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served honorably for eight years until being discharged in 1986. While serving, she met the love of her life, Roger A. McManis, and his four children in Guam. They were married on Dec. 30, 1983, with five children.

Charlene spent more than 30 years in central Vermont as a homemaker and volunteering her time to serve the community. She created the Doty Memorial School breakfast program, which paved the way for the hot lunch program. She organized the “all you can eat pie breakfast” fundraiser for the Doty lunch program.

She directed musicals for the Main Street Middle School Dinner Theater. She coached little tots gymnastics and also was involved with the Girl Scouts, Barre Players, Barre Opera House, Lost Nation Theater, Resurrection Baptist Church and various local children’s camps. While in Guam, she coached the Naval Air Station youth swim team.

She was a member of the American Legion Post No. 3, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post No. 792 and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She served on the Vermont Commission of Native American Affairs for three years. Charlene earned her bachelor’s degree in Native American Education on May 2, 2011, from Vermont College.

She enjoyed many crafts, especially sewing, Native bead work and crocheting mittens and hats for the homeless. She crafted Native dolls and fashioned a jingle dancer doll, which appeared in an issue of Country Woman. She had articles published in Kids VT, Highlights for Children and a cartoon strip, “Umpqua County,” in Indian Country Today. Her book, “Indian No More,” is scheduled to be published in the fall of 2019.

Charlene will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Roger McManis of Worcester, Vt.; children, Christopher McManis and his wife Catherine of Portsmouth, R.I., Veronica McManis of Montpelier, Vt., Angela Mabini and her husband Michael of Waipahu, Hawaii, Patrick McManis and his wife Jenny of Middletown, R.I., and Sarah Ferriss and her husband Greg of Worcester, Vt.; grandchildren, Christopher Jr., Alissa, Michael, Logan, Amaiah, Hemera and Oliver; brother, George Collier of Belfair, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Patricia Huckins of Stuart, Fla., and Rosalie McManis of Richardson, Texas; and brother-in-law, Willard McManis of Vine Grove, Ky.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 5, at Guare and Sons Funeral Home, 30 School St., Montpelier, Vt.

Memorial contributions may be made to Doty Memorial School, Resurrection Baptist Church or Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice.

To express condolences, visit www.guareandsons.com.