Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Manning: First, Only Woman Mayor Of Prairie Grove
PRAIRIE GROVE — Margaret Eilleen Manning, a resident of Prairie Grove, passed away April 15, 2016, at Washington Regional Medical Ce n ter in Fayetteville. She was born November 23, 1929, in Strathroy, Ontario Canada, the daughter of George Walter and Freida Limon Robinson.
Eilleen graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Victoria School of Nursing in 1951. She worked at the Elizabeth Hospital and later in her husband’s practice as a Nurse and Receptionist.
A member of the local General Federated Woman’s Club (GFWC), she served as Arkansas State President from 1978-1980, Chairman of the GFWC Health Division from 1980- 1982, Secretary of the GFWC South Central Regional Conference from 1980- 1982 and President of the GFWC South Central Regional Conference 19841986.
She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over 60 years and served as Worthy Matron. A member of PEO and served as the first and only female Mayor of the City of Prairie Grove from 1987 - 1994.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother John Robinson and one brother-in-law Jack Fidler.
Survivors include her husband of 63 years Dr. R.D. (Doug) Manning, M.D.; two sons Bob Manning and wife Anita of Colorado Springs, Colorado and John Manning of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; two daughters Margaret Poeppel and husband Wolfgang of Augsburg, Germany, and Dorothy Ivey and husband Greg of Gravette, Arkansas; one brother William Robinson and wife Gloria of London, Ontario, Canada; two sisters-in-law Marie Robinson of Strathroy, Ontario, Canada and Dorothy Fidler of Seattle, Washington; four grandchildren Christopher Manning and wife Amber, Matthew Manning and wife Renee, Alexander Poeppel and Sabrina Poeppel; two great grandchildren Jack and Leo Manning.
Funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday April 23, 2016, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove with burial in Prairie Grove Cemetery.
Online guest book, www. luginbuel.com
Quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Minister and Theologian:
“There is nothing that can replace the absence of someone dear to us, and one should not even attempt to do so. One must simply hold out and endure it. At first that sounds very hard, but at the same time it is also a great comfort. For to the extent the emptiness truly remains unfilled one remains connected to the other person through it. It is wrong to say that God fills the emptiness. God in no way fills it but much more leaves it precisely unfilled and thus helps us preserve — even in pain — the authentic relationship. Further more, the more beautiful and full the remembrances, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude transforms the torment of memory into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.”