Obituary: Dorothy Mae Manley, 98, of Ludington

Dorothy Manley

Dorothy Mae Manley, 98, of Ludington, passed away on Friday, October 9, 2026.  Dorothy was born on September 9, 1928 in Fountain, the daughter of Charles “Bill” and Ada (Goff) Williams and attended Fountain schools before graduating from Scottville High School with the class of 1947.  Because there was no bus service in those days, Dorothy lived with Carl and Betty Lundquist while she attended Scottville High School.  After she graduated, Dorothy worked at Carrom Company in Ludington packing board games.

On her weekends, Dorothy enjoyed skating at Northern Gardens (Later Johnny’s Bandstand) in Custer where she met the love of her life Bill Manley.  They were wed on January 14, 1950 at the Fountain Methodist Church and celebrated 49 years together before Bill preceded her in death in 1999.  They loved traveling and camping all over the United States and Canada – Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida to name a few.  She and Bill were members of the Western Michigan Old Engine Club and Dorothy often attended the Tallman Area Senior Center and Scottville Area Senior Center where she made many great friends and also took part in rolling over 5,000 bandages for the Haitian Relief effort.  Dorothy always found great joy in the presence of her family and on her 98th birthday last month, she was surrounded by them on her annual ride on the Silver Lake Dunes.

Along with her husband Bill, Dorothy was also preceded in death by her parents Bill and Ada Williams; her brother Charles (Helen) Williams; her sisters Lois (Norman) Stewart, and Shirley (Ernest) Koviak; and her sister-in-law Stella Williams.

Dorothy will be greatly missed by her children Stephen (Kim) Manley of Beaverton, Roger (Karen) Manley of Edwardsburg, LuAnn (Scott) Merz of Custer, and Terri (William) Stakenas of Free Soil; her grandchildren David Manley, Bill Manley, Danielle (Mike) Trapp, Nick (Brandi) Manley, Scott (Deby) Merz Jr., Hailee (Kyle) Larson, Lyndsay (Seth) Earl, Kyle (Haley) Stakenas, and Alec (Amanda) Stakenas; her great-grandchildren Lilly, Molly, Gavin, Cheyenne, Harper, Hudson, Haidyn, Reese, McKenzie, Madisyn, Hudson, and Elliott; her brother Clifford Williams of Lansing; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great friends.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be held on Saturday, October 24 from noon – 3 p.m. at the Farm View Resort, 6735 N. US 31 Hwy., Free Soil.  Those who wish to remember Dorothy with a memorial donation are asked to please consider the Fountain Horse Pull (always a favorite of hers) or the Western Michigan Old Engine Club.

Please visit Dorothy’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to share a memory or tribute of Dorothy with her family.