Esther Ruth Thayer Manwill passed away peacefully at age 66, just six days before her 67th birthday and four days before her 45th anniversary of marriage to her beloved husband.
Esther was born on March 18, 1951 in Madison, Wisconsin to Archie Adelmer Thayer and Helen Naomi Cushing. She is survived by her husband, Lee Stewart Manwill, Jr., her two older sisters, Naomi (Bob Allmon ‚ deceased), Mary (Mark Kettle), four married children, Amy (Bruce Black), Keith (Maria Reiser), Alicia (Joseph Rawlins, and Kenneth (Kaylee Glover). She is also survived by nine grandchildren, in addition to a foster grandchild who Alicia and Joseph are hoping to adopt.
At age 17, Esther moved from Wisconsin to Hyrum, Utah where she lived with foster parents (Dorothy and Wendell Pope) attending Skyview High School in Smithfield. She later attended and graduated from Weber State College with an Associate's degree in Radiologic Technology in 1971 and completed her internship at McKay Dee Hospital. Shortly thereafter, she worked as an X-ray Technician at Carbon County Hospital in Price, Utah, and later, at the University Hospital in Salt Lake City.
On March 16, 1973, she married Lee Manwill in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Esther was an exceptionally loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was very active in the LDS church and served in many callings, At the time of her passing, she was teaching a Primary Class of seven and eight-year old children.
Later, when three of her four children were school age, she returned to her profession as a Radiologic Technician, helping her husband provide for her family and demonstrating kindness and professionalism to the patients she served and developing lasting friendships with her co-workers.
After she and her husband, Lee, retired in 2011, they spent much time together, including many vacations, making beautiful memories. They also served for a time as Ordinance Workers in the Jordan River, Utah, Temple.
Esther was deeply spiritual, had great faith in her Heavenly Father, and loved to help her children and grandchildren develop faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation for all His children.
Esther was a virtuous and Christlike woman who radiated love for all. She frequently made friends with and visited the widows and elderly whose love endeared them to her.
In addition, she had a boundless love for her children, grandchildren, and her Primary Children. If a child missed attending her class, she would invite him or her to her house and give them a one-on-one lesson.
Esther was truly a person with a pure heart and a humble spirit, a person with selfless humility and without guile. She was always honest in expressing her feelings and intents to others while at the same time treating others with love and respect, whether they agreed with her or not. She will be greatly missed by all those her life has touched.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at the West Jordan Colonial Park Ward, 6695 South 2200 West in West Jordan, beginning at 1:30 PM. A visitation will be held prior to services beginning at 12 Noon at the same location. Interment will follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Sandy.
