Thomas (Tom) Richard Manney passed away in the company of family and friends on 14 June 2024 at the age of 90.

He is survived by his beloved “pal” and wife of 68 years, Monta Lee (Hathaway) Manney; four daughters: Natalya Lowther and Gloria (spouse Keith McElroy Jr.), Ruth, and Namaste Manney; grandchildren David Paul (Calumet “Callie” Foley), Angela “Angie” (Cody) Nederhoff, Neil Manney, and Timothy and Aubyn Patrick; great grandchildren Kierra Henry (Jacob Mason), Caden Henry, Rodrick Neel, and Felix Koch; and great great grandchildren Luna, Nova, and 2024 Baby Mason; as well as several step grandchildren, including Haley (Hezekiah) Phelps, and step great grandchildren, including Melody Phelps and Kimberly Patrick.

He was born on 20 December 1933 in El Paso, TX. His parents, Olaus “Oscar” Wines and Martha “Martie” Bean Manney; his brother James William “Bill” (Jean); and his niece Martha “Martie” preceded him in death.

Tom’s earliest passions were the outdoors and photography. In college, he gained two new passions, Monta and science, in the same biology class. After positions at Oak Ridge National Labs, Case Western Reserve University, and UC Berkeley, he took a dual appointment in Physics and Biology Departments at Kansas State University, attaining full professorship and tenure. He did groundbreaking research in yeast genetics before turning to science education work in collaboration with Monta late in his career. Tom loved teaching science to beginning students, and multiplied that love by inspiring school teachers in the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science (KATS) and through the Genetics Education Network Extension program.

Tom’s love of the outdoors meant weekends full of road trips, hiking, camping, and sailing with his family. He was active in the Blue Valley Yacht Club (especially in establishing its current facilities), Audubon Society, and Prairie Walkers.

There was a lot of overlap between Tom’s academic colleagues, his fellow sailors, and members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Manhattan. Groups of these lifelong friends gathered for lunch in his office daily for decades.

Retirement let Tom pursue more passions. A life-long environmentalist, he designed and helped build their passive solar home in the Flint Hills, with special touches just for his wife: counters that weren’t too tall, and the first room of her own that she’d ever had. His woodworking skills developed from finish carpentry to fine furniture to mountain dulcimers, and special items for his children and grandchildren. He was active in the Kansas Quality Woodworkers group. He was active in the Keats Lions Club and enjoyed becoming a licensed fireworks operator managing their shows.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Manhattan gave Tom a community to deepen his practical and social values. He built furnishings, did photography for directories, and served in many other ways. He was active in the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice, campaigning for LGBTQ rights among other issues. He chaired the No NBAF in Kansas organization, drawing on his professional experience in biosecurity.

In so many ways, Tom left the world a better place than he found it. May we honor his memory by doing likewise.

Online condolences may be left for the family through the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.