Claude "Mike" Manley

C. Michael "Mike" Manley, 82, of Marion, Indiana, passed away on January 11, 2026, with his wife and children lovingly by his side, after a long and hard-fought illness. Mike was born on January 8, 1944, in Shelbyville, Kentucky, to Ruth (Warren, Manley) Higgs and Morgan Manley, their only child. He graduated from Marion High School in 1962 and from DeVry University in Chicago, IL, in 1966. On August 16, 1962, he married the love of his life, Victoria (Vicki) Brown, at Hillside Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana. They were married for 62 years.

Mike was a well-known and deeply respected Marion businessman. He retired from Dynamite Building Maintenance in 2006 after 35 years and served as the Building Maintenance professional for VIA Credit Union for more than 50 years. He was a member of the Chambers of Commerce in both Marion and Wabash, as well as a member of the Marion Elks Country Club. A master gardener, he took immense pride in maintaining his immaculately beautiful home grounds and was honored to be selected for the Marion Garden Tour in 2010.

He was an avid sports fan of Marion Giant Basketball, holding season tickets since 1960 and attending every state championship. He was also a longtime season ticket holder for the Indianapolis Pacers and Indianapolis Colts. He followed the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine," regularly attended the Indianapolis 500, and was a huge fan of Big Ten sports, especially Indiana University. Mike and Vicki loved to dance, from the lively beat of 60s rock 'n' roll to the rhythm of country western, and it became one of the timeless joys they shared throughout their life together.

Mike also had a great love for the arts. He regularly attended the Marion Quartets, as well as the symphonies in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. He loved movies and prided himself on seeing all Academy Award-nominated films before the awards ceremony-a tradition he began in middle school. He collected lighthouses and visited as many as he could on family vacations, including financially supporting the move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. He was a member of the American Lighthouse Society. He and Vicki loved traveling to the beach, especially Myrtle Beach, the Outer Banks, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands.

His beloved children, Lori and Jeff, were his pride and joy. He cherished time with his family, and vacations with his wife and children were something the four of them looked forward to every year, creating lasting memories. Together, they visited all but two U.S. states. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren unconditionally and spent as much time with them as he could. They adored their "Papaw" and brought him tremendous joy. And then there is Parker, his faithful and loving dog, who stayed close to him always and brought comfort, companionship, and unwavering loyalty until the very end.

He is survived by his loving wife, Vicki; his children, Lori Thomas of Golden, CO, and Jeffrey (Carla Beth) Manley of Clearwater, FL; grandchildren Ashley (Kyle) McKnight of Dover, TN, Amanda (Nathan Ricks) Manley of Marion, IN, Victor (Alycia) Manley of Clearwater, FL, Ryan Thomas and Maxwell Thomas of Marion, IN, and Samantha (Evan) Esfahani of Golden, CO; Danny (Michaela) Litwhiler, Colorado Springs, CO; Christina (Ryan Merritt) Litwhiler, Clearwater, FL; great grandchildren Aria and Kennedy McKnight, Layla Ricks, Jayda, Charlee, and Rhett Thomas, and Caspian Esfahani; Soon to arrive great grandchild Sage Manley; Sister-in-law Gloria (Dave) Rinehart; and Parker.

He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Ruth and Darwin Higgs; his father and stepmother, Morgan and Lenora Manley; and his mother and father-in-law, Dorotha and Victor Brown.

A Going Home Service will be held on Saturday, January 24th at 3:30 p.m. in Clearwater, Florida, at his condominium complex Club House, where family and friends may gather to honor his life.

A Life Celebration Service for Mike will be Friday June 5,2026 at 1:30 PM with Rev. Todd Graham officiating at College Park Armes-Hunt Life Celebration Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4601 S. Western Ave. Marion, IN 46953 where the family will receive guest 1 hour prior to the services. Burial of his cremains will follow at Grant Memorial Park Cemetery, Marion, IN.

Online Condolences may be made at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com