Linda was born to Estele Cockrell Kendrick and J.W. Kendrick in Camden, Texas, on November 20, 1939. During her early years she spent most of her time in either Corrigan, TX, or Pasadena, TX. Although Linda was an only child, her uncle, Billy Mac Cockrell, was only one year her senior, and was the best big brother a girl could wish for. She enjoyed her time in Corrigan with her uncle and cousins, and it was during those visits that she caught the eye of B.L. Manry.
On April 12, 1958, Linda married B.L. and a month later she graduated from Pasadena High School. A year to the month after getting married, Linda gave birth to the first of three children, Julia. In 1960, the Texas Highway Patrol assigned B.L to Alvin, Texas, so the young couple moved to Alvin where Linda dedicated herself to providing a loving home for their family. When their second child, Tim, came along in 1963, B.L. was still working with the highway patrol and Linda was maintaining their small, isolated home on the outskirts of Alvin. Although she was home alone when B.L. was out patrolling, people learned she was NOT defenseless. When the mayor of Alvin dropped by one evening to make sure Linda and the kids were alright, he found himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun being wielded by little 5’ 1.5” tall Linda (don’t forget that half inch… by the way!). When she saw it was the mayor, she lowered her weapon, but she was prepared to protect her family from strangers!
By the time their third and final child, Brenda, made her way into the world in 1964, B.L. had moved on to a career in safety, first with Monsanto and later in the transportation industry. Around 1974, Linda went to work as a bookkeeper, working for a local department store, Wellborn’s. Although she left Wellborn’s to work for Alvin Equipment Company for a few years, she later returned to Wellborn’s, where she worked until the store closed its doors in 2004.
B.L’s job with Monsanto gave the couple the opportunity to buy a home in Hillcrest Village, an incorporated City adjacent to Alvin, in 1967. The four bedroom ranch style home on ¾” of an acre with plenty of trees and room for the kids, gave the family a little piece of country on which to grow. B.L. and Linda continued to live in that home until Linda suffered a debilitating stroke in April of 2016. After the stroke, Linda’s condition required she live in a nursing home. With the exception of the few times B.L. went out of town and when COVID restrictions prevented it, B.L. visited Linda virtually every day. They would hold hands, he would read, she would watch TV. Of course there was the time that he visited and had let his face get a bit scruffy… that time he got a finger shaken at him… Linda never was a fan of beards, and certainly not a beard on B.L.!
On July 21, 2022, the Lord called Linda home. She and B.L. had been married for 64 years, and B.L. called her his beloved, lovely bride each and every day.
Linda is survived by her husband of 64 years B.L; daughter, Julia Harman of Webster; son, Tim Manry of Austin; Daughter Brenda Finch and son-in-law Marcus Finch of Houston; granddaughter, Shanon Harman of St. Cloud, Florida; granddaughter, Amanda Harman Baggerley of Richwood; granddaughter, Ember Frietas and her husband Rocky Frietas of Kapolei, Hawaii; grandson Christopher Brigaitis and his wife Kristine Brigaitis of Houston; grandson Daniel Brigaitis, of Cypress; granddaughter, Marissa Finch of Terre Haute, Indiana; granddaughter, Meredith Manry of Denton; Grandson, Anderson Manry of Round Rock; great granddaughters, Riley and Lily and great grandsons, Tucker and Hudson of Kapolei, Hawaii; great granddaughter Mikaela and great grandson Ian of Houston; Sister-in-law Chris Setliff and her husband Ben Setliff of Mount Pleasant.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 10 AM at the Corrigan Funeral Home, 204 E. Front Street, Corrigan, TX 75939. Reception to follow at the First United Methodist Church of Corrigan, 101 N. Market St, Corrigan, TX 75939.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Linda (Kendrick) Manry, please visit our floral store.