Kristie LaRae Manwaring

Kristie LaRae Manwaring, age 64, passed suddenly from this life to the next on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 surrounded by her three adoring daughters from Heart Failure. Kristie was born January 31, 1960 in Ogden, Utah. She grew up in Vernal, Utah but was proud to be a “city girl”. Growing up, she had a passion for swimming and gymnastics. As a child, Kristie would go around the neighborhood collecting pop bottle tops to sell so she could pay for swimming lessons, which she did and later become a lifeguard at the Vernal Pool. It was here that she was the bubbly, social flirt that she was since dating was one of Kristie’s favorite pastimes. Kristie also had a deep love for gymnastics and was on the Uintah High School Gymnastics Team where she excelled at the uneven bars and the vault and won many ribbons. Kristie always enjoyed writing poems and stories and won several writing contests. She continued to write throughout her life and wrote many cherished poems for her family. She also enjoyed working at the Vernal Drug during this time and then, in 1977, she entered the United Teenager Pageant and became Utah’s State Finalist. Because of her many accomplishments, academic achievements, and disciplined work ethic, she was accepted into many colleges offering full scholarships but in 1979 Kristie met and fell in love with her husband David Ashley Manwaring. He soon proposed at Chuck’s Drive In and on August 9, 1979. They were married in the Manti Utah Temple choosing blue and yellow pastel wedding colors. For their honeymoon, they came out to Salt Lake City to enjoy the finer things of life such as staying at the Little America Hotel and visiting Lagoon. In May of 1980, they happily and nervously found out they were expecting their first child—they had no insurance and no money. David soon joined the Air Force and left for Basic Training in Texas. Later stationed in Tacoma, Washington, David and Kristie welcomed their first child Nicole Ashley Manwaring on January 13, 1981 and their second daughter, Lisa Dawn Manwaring on August 18, 1982. With having the two girls so close together, not enjoying the Washington weather, and being away from family she was busy and overwhelmed. Yet, always strong and loving she was able to thrive and be the exceptional mom that she had always been. In 1984, David and Kristie moved their little family back to Utah and settled in Bountiful. Being so good with kids, Kristie did daycare and was able to love on her two girls at home. After selling and getting rid of all of the baby items and clothes, Kristie became very sick, later realizing that she was pregnant with their third child. She and David welcomed their third child Michelle Ann Manwaring on November 28, 1987. With Nicole and Lisa being older, Kristie had plenty of help taking care of Michelle. As the girls grew, Kristie prioritized being home with them above all else, again doing daycare so she could be at home with them. Kristie’s gift of loving and teaching children was remarkable. She was able to care for numerous children in daycare with expert skill, organization, love, and teaching. In 1992, Kristie left daycare behind and began working part time at Russon Brothers Mortuary in Bountiful, Utah. There, she was able to help families prepare their loved ones for their funerals with compassion, love, and empathy— something only Kristie could give with her big heart. Because of her talent for writing, she wrote the obituaries for those who had passed, a blessing to many. As the girls got older, David and Kristie decided to sell their first home they bought in Bountiful, and moved north to Kaysville, Utah, settling in the Hess Farms subdivision where they raised their family for the next ten years. It was here that they both served in the Nursery of their ward year after year, being so well-loved by the children and members of their ward. Later, Kristie started working at Lakeview Hospital in the Accounting Department and it’s here where she was able to discover her talent and love for business accounting and management. In 1995, Kristie left Lakeview Hospital and took an accounting position at BMI Associates in Kaysville, Utah. During this time she completed an Accounting course at the Davis Applied Technology Center and excelled in her work. She worked part time at K-Mart in Farmington, Utah, which represents her strong work ethic, selfless love for her family, and generous spirit. In keeping with her generous heart, she became interested in becoming a foster parent wanting to help children and youth who needed help. David and Kristie were able to open their home and hearts to several foster children. When David and Kristie found out their daughter Nicole was expecting her first child, they were thrilled. They welcomed their first grandchild, Ashlynn Ann Shryock, their second grandchild, Gaven Lee Shryock and then their third grandchild, Austin J Shryock. They were overjoyed and made their grandchildren the center of their lives. The next year, they welcomed their fourth grandchild Miles Anthony Lott, born to Lisa, and their fifth grandchild, Sophia Mikael Knowlton born to Michelle. Kristie’s grandchildren were everything to her. She loved them with her whole heart and dedicated her life to making sure they were happy and taken care of. She helped them with everything—homework, meals, school, car rides, and braces. During the divorce of her daughters Lisa and Michelle, she opened up her home and heart, helping to raise both Miles and Sophia with protection, tenderness, comfort, and guidance. She said that she had a “Grandma’s Garden”, which were her children and grandchildren, her joy and purpose. Later in life, Kristie established her own accounting business, "Fig Tree Bookeeping”, helping many small business owners get their books up and running with organization, attention to detail, and care to a state of perfection. Kristie worked the last decade of her life as an accountant and controller at Diesel Brothers in Bountiful, Utah. Kristie always enjoyed working and staying busy, often working two jobs. She never wanted to or had any plans of retiring—she enjoyed work and it was her happy place. During this time, David became ill, suffering several health problems. Later not being able to walk or see, Kristie devoted all her time, energy, and love in to taking care of him for the last three years of his life. She worked so hard always ensuring that he was comfortable, happy, and well-taken care of. Kristie was heartbroken when her dear David passed away, last December in 2023. Kristie gave of herself without limits, with the deepest love and compassion, with exceptional talents, with selfless generosity, with strength and resilience, and with unconditional love. It wasn’t uncommon for people to find a lifelong friend in Kristie after just minutes of being in her presence. Kristie always wanted to save and help everyone she could. We would often joke that she made friends everywhere she went; gas stations, lines, and people on the phone. She was the person that everyone depended on and sought out for help. She was the glue to our family, the heartbeat of our lives, and the brightest light. She will be missed so deeply and by so many. Ironically, she had the very best heart out of anyone, and yet it was her heart that failed her. Kristie is survived by her children Nicole Ashley Manwaring, Lisa Dawn Manwaring, Michelle Ann Manwaring; and her grandchildren Ashlynn Ann Shryock, Gaven Lee Shryock, Austin J Shryock, Miles Anthony Lott, and Sophia Mikael Knowlton. Kristie is preceded in death by her husband David Ashley Manwaring, her mother LaRae Jackson, and her maternal grandmother Nora Porter. A private memorial service will be held in honor of Kristie’s exceptional life she led. We would like to thank the nurses and staff (who became her friends) at Intermountain Medical Center, her loving co-workers at Diesel Brothers, her dearly loved sister, Sherilyn Bennion, and our friends and extended family for their love and support.

Kristie LaRae Manwaring

January 31, 1960 - December 18, 2024