Florence Gertrude Manning, age 88 of Owosso, passed away on April 14, 2016 at Brookdale of Grand Blanc. 

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church; 1500 N. Water St. Owosso, Michigan, Pastor Calvin Long will officiate.  A private family burial will take place at a later date, Florence will be laid to rest with her husband Monty in Kalamazoo.

     

Florence was born on May 6, 1927 in Kalamazoo to the late John and Ruth (Curry) Clementz. She grew up and attended school in Kalamazoo.  Florence graduated from Bronson Methodist Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse.  She then attended the University of Colorado, Boulder; she graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s of science with a major in nursing in August of 1950.  She worked at Bronson Methodist Hospital for a short time before taking a job with the Industrial Health Department at Upjohn Pharmaceuticals where she would spend 8 ½ years as a nurse.  Florence joined the staff of the Shiawassee County Health Department as a nurse on September 10, 1973; she would spend 16 years here until her retirement on October 12, 1989.  She served as the coordinator for the Home Health program for the health department from 1973 to 1982.  She served on the advisory committee for Memorial Healthcare Home Health/Hospice from 1982 on.  She served on multiple committees that would shape the future of home healthcare and Hospice, including discharge planning, geriatric assessment, and long-term care.  She had a special interest in maternal and child health services, which included high risk infants. 

​

On December 16, 1950 she married Monty Stone Manning in Kalamazoo; they would spend 47 years together before his passing on September 13, 1998. Florence had many hobbies including; basket weaving, lighthouse memorabilia, bird watching, gardening and doing family genealogy.   She was a member of the Shiawassee County Genealogical Society and the Historical Society.  Her favorite place to be was at her cottage on Payne Lake with her family. 

​

Florence is survived by her two sons; Paul (Mary) Manning of Grand Blanc and Scott S. Manning of Grand Rapids, her two grandchildren who were the joy of her life, Abigail and Zachary Manning of Grand Blanc. Her sister; Phyllis (Arthur J.) Lindberg of Chico, California, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

She was predeceased by her husband Monty in 1998 and both of her parents.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Church of Owosso. 

The family is being served by Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, Jennings-Lyons Chapel. 
www.WatkinsFuneralHomes.com