Your family gathered together recently at the FR (family reunion) to carry on with tradition and it was good to see bits and pieces of you displayed in your family. We miss you Dorrance, but you didn’t leave us empty handed. The legacy of your life shines brightly in each of us in different ways, some received your competitive nature, some music, others have that tenderness. I always admired the way you valued people more than things. I strive to be more like that but I’ve got a long way to go yet. We love you and look forward to seeing you again.

We miss our loved ones during the holidays more because holidays are family time for most. Sure miss both mom and dad this year. Especially dad since his passing was recent whereas mom’s was 22 years ago. 

Dad and mom always got us a Christmas present and occasionally a two. One year Daniel and I got BB guns. I was probably 11 and Daniel was probably 10. Some neighbor boys had BB guns an we got into a shootout down by a drainage ditch that went through the neighborhood.

We weren’t shooting at targets. We were shooting at each other. It’s a wonder someone didn’t lose an eye. Don’t remember if the folks found out about it. Probably didn’t or we would have lost our guns for sure. 

Amazingly, we got out of our childhood and teen days alive. 

The following tribute was written by grandson Brent Manning in a devotional he placed on St. Luke's United Methodist website December 3, 2017. Brent is employed at St. Luke's.

This year I witnessed an amazing thing, the passing of my grandfather.  This might seem like a rather strange statement, but as our family has learned to live our lives without him, I have had time to think about the amazing man he was.

During his final days, he was in the VA Hospital and we were able to stay with him around the clock.  There were times that he would tell us his stories of his adventures; trying to be a movie star, his WWII stories (which I had never heard before), some of his favorite jokes, singing songs he wrote, and most of all, his passion for his Savior.

You see when he was young, he became an evangelist and traveled the Southwest, preaching revival after revival.  At his height, he was booked for years in advance.  He later pastored a number of churches in Oklahoma.  While I was talking to him one day in the hospital about his ministry, I asked him how many people did he feel like he impacted.  He said that he had no idea, he didn’t keep track of it.

Well I would have to say he impacted a multitude of people.  While we sat in the hospital people would stream in to share a prayer, a memory they had of him, and what he meant to them.  When a friend would walk in, my grandpa’s face would light up and he was quick to offer a handshake or a hug.  

At his memorial service the room was so full that we had to set up overflow seating because so many people came to show their respects.  It was amazing to hear the various stories of what he meant to those who were there.  Each one having a special memory of what he meant to them, the special way he would go out of his way to be there for them.  

During the Advent season, it is easy to become distracted among the chaos.  My prayer is to become more like my grandpa, making an impact on those around me.  Being a better father, husband, friend, co-worker, and most of all, to become more passionate about my Savior, Jesus Christ.   

Brent Manning, Grandson