Obituary – Phyllis Lee Manning

Phyllis Lee (Holland) Manning, 95, of Mount Ayr, formerly of Beaconsfield, Iowa, passed away on October 31, 2026, at Clearview Home in Mount Ayr.
Phyllis was born in Chariton, Iowa, on December 14, 1930, to Kenneth and Mildred (Kitselman) Holland. She spent most of her childhood in Beaconsfield and fondly remembered riding her pony, Sparkle, to school and staying at the Mount Ayr Hotel, which her uncle Arthur Holland and aunt Bertha Holland owned in the 1930s. She graduated from Beaconsfield High School in 1948.
Phyllis married Jack Manning on July 3, 1952. They had three daughters, Linda, Janet, and Vicki, and shared nearly 68 years of marriage before Jack’s death in 2020.
She worked most of her adult life as a secretary, first for Immanuel United Methodist Church in Des Moines and later for the Beaconsfield and Kellerton Methodist churches. At Immanuel, she also enjoyed singing in the choir and taking part in the bell choir.
Phyllis was happiest hosting big family dinners at their farm in Beaconsfield, frying chicken and baking pies for everyone who came. Part of her charm was in her expressions, like “Company’s comin’!” when a fork fell to the floor.
She loved reading and doing crossword puzzles and often gave her grandchildren books. At her nursing home, she donated many of the books she had collected over the years to the residents’ library, sharing her love of reading with others. She had a soft spot for cats, tending to the farm cats and loving Zuzu and Bubba.
Phyllis faced life’s setbacks with a determination to bounce back and keep going. She remained feisty and independent until the end, always wanting to do things her own way.
Phyllis is survived by her daughters, Janet Manning of Des Moines and Vicki Harrington (Scott Miller) of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchildren, Joey Harrington (Elizabeth Holoubek) of Portland, Oregon, and Katie Harrington Andujar (Alex Andujar) of Mission, Kansas; and great-grandchildren, Mickey, Ramona, and Scarlett.
She is also survived by her nephews, Russell Manning (Rhonda), Ralph Manning (Vicki), and Tommy Holland; nieces, Cathy (Manning) Wirtz, Jennifer Griffis (Craig), and Rebecca Holland; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jack Manning; daughter Linda Manning; and brother John Thomas Holland.
A visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on November 14, 2026, at Kellerton United Methodist Church, with a graveside service to follow at Maple Row Cemetery in Kellerton. Memorials are to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Iowa. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.