John R. 'Mac' McManus

John R. "Mac" McManus, 81, passed away in his sleep on May 11, 2005, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.

John was born March 16, 1924, to Pete and Rosa McManus in Christopher, Ill.

In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country in World War II, where he received a gunshot wound to his abdomen and received an honorable discharge.

After that John worked for 12 years as a motorcycle policeman and firefighter in Huntington Beach, Calif. He married Betty Whitening in October 1964 and was preceded in death by her in 1984.

He went to school in the 1970s, received a degree in electrical engineering, and went to work for Pan Am Airlines.

He married Sara Ellman in July 1993, lived in Kalispell and was preceded in death by her in October 2002.

He enjoyed traveling, listening to big band music, dancing, visiting with his friends, debating politics, drives in the country, and a good steak and a beer.

He will be missed dearly by his friends and family.

He was also preceded in death by his parents and his son Jeffrey McManus.

He is survived by his special friend, Roanne Grey, of Kalispell; and his stepchildren, Caprice and Tom Brewer of Pismo Beach, Calif., Sheila and Doug Morin, and Paul and Julie Ellman of Kalispell, Dan and Kate Ellman of Columbia Falls, Cindy and Candido Martinez of Hotchkiss, Colo., Rick Ellman of Spokane, Jane and Jim Leatherberry of Phoenix, and Tim Ellman of Billings; and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Services were held in Springville, Utah, on May 14.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice or Heritage Place.