Tom Manter, a man of many gifts, talents and interests stepped into heaven on May 27, 2022, one day short of Gail and his 17th wedding anniversary.

Tom Manter was a good man. He never spoke unkindly about anyone. He loved babies, children and pets. He was not afraid to hold them and play with them.

He loved sports, all kinds—football, basketball, baseball, soft ball—all ages! Tennis, volleyball, soccer. He knew the important rules on each one, and how to score and keep stats on most. But the thing he loved the most about these games was that he could write about them for the newspaper.During his almost 60 year career he covered sports for The Clearwater Sun, The St. Pete Times, The Anderson Independent, The Athens Banner Herald and The Hartwell Sun.The Sun's own Wassie Vickery said Tom was the best sports writer she had ever known.

Tom was famous for his desktop publishing. He could do more with the old outdated Microsoft WORD than you would believe! And he loved to use big heavy fonts in his creations. Every birthday he presented family members with a new poster saying SPEED LIMIT # with the number changing with the birthday. New babies in the family often received personal story books.

Tom was so creative.Gail received many beautiful messages from him. Sometimes all she had to do was look out the window to the driveway. His message was written in sidewalk chalk!One of his best surprise gifts was a barrel of fleece flowers. Forever the bargain hunter, Tom found them for $ .25 a piece at Dollar Tree. They were about 12 to 14 inches tall, the flower was about 5 inches across, leaves about 3 inches long. They used them in various projects and it took about 5 years to use the last one.

Tom was proud of his work and loved showing it off. He printed everything he designed or wrote and kept many items in notebooks. He treasured his business-card book and He loved to barter for merchandise. His very best account was Backstreet BBQ.

Tom had many lifelong friendships. He might begin talking about Billy Reader and others knew exactly who he was.He had a wonderful time in high school with best friends Sandy Madley and Dickie Lodge. Yes, get Sandy and Tom together and the stories unfolded like they were yesterday. His work friendships were the same.He relived the fun times with laughter and excitement.

Tom's desire and dream to publish his own newspaper became reality when he began the Rabun Journal in 1987. Not destined for a long life the journal was sold after two years of publication under Tom's leadership. It was also the end of that 401K.

The best thing Tom's writing ever got him was his wife. They met on match.com and Gail was intrigued by the very first email. For their first meeting he contrived an elaborate scavenger hunt. However he didn't factor in time to find the spots he chose for the clues, so she caught up with him after the first two! He was hers completely the day he moved his washing machine and dryer to her house!

Married and moved to Hartwell, Tom quickly found the little league baseball fields. Before long he was keeping stats and score for the little guys. When school began that year he signed up to substitute teach. (His second career was teaching). He was always delighted when Walmart provided sightings of his little students. He taught all ages from kindergarten to Seniors and loved every minute! And they loved him too.For years after he couldn't participate in these kinds of activities he continued to run into kids who remembered him as the best substitute they ever had.

For several years Tom was at home alone while Gail drove to Athens to work. Here are a couple of his antics.Hid the dirty pots and pans in the garage because he "forgot."Sat in an office chair at the top of the driveway in an attempt to ride to the bottom. About halfway down he lost control and rolled into the middle of the front yard.

Tom still loved the grocery store looking for Deals! He often said, "if it ain't on sale, it ain't in my buggy,". He loved Walmart and always brought home something he couldn't live without. The last Christmas he shopped there he decided Gail would love an aquarium for her gift!

As the years passed, life presented several difficult situations. Tom had worn out his knees with all that baseball and softball and he needed both knees replacement. The first surgery was fine, but the second became infected with MRSA. Gail received a Parkinson' diagnosis like Tom who was diagnosed with PD when he was 41.When they began seeing her symptoms develop they knew what was coming.

They persevered. Two things helped keep them in God's will."Do the next thing" and "one Day at a time, Lord Jesus, that's all we're asking from you."

The couple was devastated when it was obvious Tom could not be cared for at home any longer.The blessing, he was only a mile from home so visiting was easy.That is until March 13, 2020 when the doors were closed to the facility due to the COVID-19 virus. As the months progressed Tom lost more valuable days to live.

He kept a notebook and numbered the days he was "in jail" as he called it. Number 100 was a very sad day. It was not until May 2021 that things began to return to a semblance of normalcy. But Tom had already lost a bigger battle and was unable to continue the fight.Spring began again in March of 2022 and Tom declined day by day. Quieter, gentler, until the day he went to sleep. For seven days Gail and family watched by his bedside and quietly Tom slipped into the presence of his Savior.

Tom Manter was a good man.

Tom is survived by his wife, Gail, daughter Heather Manter, daughter Holly and son-in-law Jeff Arbogast, grandsons Braxton and Mason. Sister-in-Law Angie Gurley, sister and brother-in-law Jana and Bill McGee and niece and nephew Ashley and Josh Gurley and children James and Kelley Ann.

A service to celebrate Tom's life will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 2:00pm at the Hartwell First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at a reception immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, and memorials may be made to the Hartwell First United Methodist Church Children's Ministry or to the Church Building Fund, 200 E. Howell Street, Hartwell GA 30643.

The Strickland Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements

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