Jared Lee McManus, 47

Jared Lee McManus, 47, of Kalispell, passed away during the Independence Day Holiday. He was born April 19, 1976 in Kalispell, to Jack and Janice McManus, just nine days after his sister Leisha’s second birthday.

He attended Helena Flats Elementary School, Kalispell Middle School and graduated from Flathead High School in 1994. He was an avid wrestler, starting early on in his childhood and wrestled varsity throughout his high school career.

Throughout his childhood and adult life, he enjoyed the outdoors, being it at the lake, the beach, the mountains or rivers.

In 1997 he seized an opportunity with the company Alamon Inc. and moved to Hawaii. During the summer of 1999, he met the love of his life, Catherine, and her son Nohea. They were married at their home in Pahoa on May 1, 2004.

In September of that year, Jared and Cat welcomed their daughter Kailee to their family. Nohea and Kailee were joined by Jack Waylon in May of 2008, and their family was complete.

In 2011, Jared and Cat invested in some property in Puna and started developing what they had hoped would be their forever home. Tragically, the sixth fissure of the Kilauea eruption opened in their neighborhood in May of 2018 and by the end of the month the lava had taken their home.

With heavy hearts, the McManus family made the journey back to the mainland and to Montana to start a new life close to Jared’s family.

To know Jared was to love him. His passion for adventure was evident in hunting, fishing, rafting, anything outdoors and most of all his family and friends will live on in those that loved him. He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father and a friend who will be deeply missed.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Norma and Hugh McManus; Mary Olson and Earl Highley; an uncle, Andrew Highley; and mother-in-law, Sue Allen.

Jared is survived by his wife, Catherine McManus; children Nohea, Kailee and Jack; parents, Jack and Jan; sister, Leisha (Chad) and their six children; great niece; uncle, Alan; and aunt Elaine; uncle Dick and aunt Virginia, uncle Denny and aunt Rita; numerous cousins and their extended families; and an army of friends, old and new.

Services for Jared will be held August 5 at Middle Thompson at Jack and Jan’s, with a celebration of life to follow at noon.

Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.