Dorothy Fay Manley

Remembering Dorothy Faye Manley

Born January 1, 1933, In Olney Texas – Passed on January 16, 2026, in Weatherford Texas

There are some people who seem to carry sunshine wherever they go, and Dorothy Faye Manley was undoubtedly one of those rare souls. Born on January 1st, in 1933 to George and Daisy Gray and raised on their sprawling 318-acre farm near Graham, Texas, Dorothy entered the world as if announcing that something special had arrived to start the New Year—and special she truly was.

Growing up as one of nine children, Dorothy learned early the beautiful art of loving deeply and sharing generously. The Gray family farm wasn't just land and livestock; it was a place where bonds were forged that would last a lifetime, where Dorothy's capacity for unconditional love first took root and flourished.

At seventeen, Dorothy said yes to what seemed like an ordinary double date with her best friend. Little did she know that this simple "yes" would change her life forever. While on that date, another local boy caught her eye—and oh, what an understatement that turned out to be! That young man had no idea he'd just met the girl who would steal his heart completely and, within two short years, become his wife.

When he enlisted in the Army to serve on the front lines during the Korean War, what followed was a courtship written in letters—precious correspondence that the family treasures to this day. Through carefully penned words across an ocean, two hearts grew closer despite the distance. He made his intentions clear: he wanted to marry her. She made her promise just as clear: she'd be waiting when he came home. And when he occasionally asked about "that other boy" from their first meeting, Dorothy was delighted to report that fellow had moved on to someone else! True to their word, they married.

When Dorothy became a mother to four children, she didn't just take on a title—she mastered an art form. Her children learned two fundamental truths early on: they didn't have money, and they didn't care! Because when you're raised by parents who provide love, security, and joy in abundance, material wealth becomes irrelevant. As one of her children beautifully put it, "I didn't even realize just how monetarily challenged we were until I was much older and realized that we were dirt poor!"

Dorothy had a special gift—she made each of her four children feel like they were her secret favorite. In whispered confidences, she'd tell each one individually that they held the top spot in her heart. This beautiful secret was kept by all four until their teenage years, when one child mentioned it aloud, only to discover that each sibling had been given the same precious assurance! When confronted, Dorothy simply laughed—because of course she loved them all equally and without judgment.

This wasn't to say she was a pushover. Dorothy could dispense discipline when needed, sending children to their rooms or delivering the occasional "attitude adjustment." But her children always knew that any correction came wrapped in tempered love, and before long, hugs and kisses would restore the peace. Her way of teaching biblical principles was beautifully simple—she lived them. Her children learned about unconditional love not through sermons, but through her example.

As the years passed, Dorothy's official titles multiplied: beloved aunt, cherished mother-in-law, adoring grandma, great-grandma, and great-great-grandma. As her family lovingly noted, by any educational institution's standards, she would have earned a PhD-level degree in the most important subject of all—being MOM. Dorothy's love was a constant, unchanging force in the lives of all who knew her. Her children speak of how her love remained steady through their "several life mistakes"—what a gift to know that nothing you could do would diminish your place in her heart.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, George, and Daisy Gray; her siblings Billy Holly, Wayne, Gaylon, Larry, Gwen, and Frankie Gray; her beloved husband Troy; her daughter Deborah Petty; and her son Ronnie Manley.

She is survived by her brothers Jerry, Lonny, and Eldon Gray; her daughter Dorinda Goodwin; and her son William Manley, along with 10 grandchildren, and a host of great and great-great-grandchildren who will carry forward her legacy of unconditional love.

Dorothy Faye Manley lived 93 beautiful years, and every one of them was marked by her extraordinary capacity to love without limits, to forgive without conditions, and to make every person in her orbit feel like they were her favorite. In a world that often feels short on genuine warmth, Dorothy was a reminder that love—real, deep, abiding love—is the greatest gift we can give and receive. As she from her many days and nights spent reading the bible, LOVE cost nothing to give and yet it can purchase the one thing no amount of wealth or works ever could, “Eternal Life Filled with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory”!

Her laughter, her wisdom, her gentle corrections, and her fierce protectiveness will live on in every heart she touched. Mom, your love story continues in all of us and with knowing hearts, we will see your smiling face again!

Dorothy will be lying in state on Wednesday till 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Bethesda Cemetery.