A memorial service for Maurice E. Manley, husband of LaVada B. Manley, will be at 11:00AM Saturday, August 22, 2009 in Highland Park United Methodist Church conducted by Rev. Ray Litts and Rev. Neil Woods. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church immediately after the service. A graveside service with military honors by Florence Veterans Honor Guard will be held at 9:00AM Monday August 24 in Florence National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in his memory either to McLeod Hospice House, 1203 E. Cheves Street, Florence, SC 29506 or Highland Park United Methodist Church, 1300 Second Loop Road, Florence, SC 29506. Mr. Manley, 94, died August 19, 2009, of natural causes at McLeod Hospice. He was born, March 13, 1915 in Richwood, OH, to the late John Ott and Ursel Hartshorn Manley. At an early age, the family moved to Olathe, KS, then referred to as "Indian Country". In Kansas, he met LaVada Bryant, and they were married January 29, 1940. Mauri proudly served in the U. S. Navy SeaBees during WWII (1942-1945). He was attached to the 5th Marine Corps and was part of the invasion of Iwo Jima. He spent his 30th birthday lying on the beach on Iwo Jima, dodging bullets, and wondering if he would ever see his 31st birthday. He was discharged on Thanksgiving Day, 1945. He thoroughly enjoyed attending the annual Iwo Jima reunions at Camp Pendleton Marine Base in California. Mauri and LaVada spent more than 50 years in the same house in LaPuente, California, and spent nearly the same amount of time as members of the LaPuente United Methodist Church. Mauri spent many years as a milling machine operator, devising many time and money-saving procedures during that time. He also worked as a salesperson for Southwestern Petroleum Company (Swepco), right up to the time of his death. Mauri was a loving father. He was a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America for many years, and guided many a young boy through scouts to the rank of Eagle scout. In 2004, Mauri and LaVada moved to Florence, South Carolina to be nearer to family. Here they have belonged to Highland Park United Methodist Church. Surviving, in addition to his wife of 69 years, are: son, Don (Julie) Manley of Florence; granddaughters, Stephanie (Gregg) Williams of Florence and Christine Manley of Nashville, TN; great grandson, Tommy Williams of Florence.