Jackson McManus' Obituary
Jackson L. McManus, 82, of Mooresville died April 5, 2018. He was born on April 13, 1935 in York County to the late John and Sarah McManus.
Jack his survived by many who love him. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife Annette Keith McManus; four children, Charles McManus, Don (Pam) Rea, Beverly (Ronnie) Fain, and Buddy (Deborah Gilbert) McManus; sister Betty (Bill) Cotten of Norfolk, VA; and 5 grandchildren, Rebecca Rea, Justin Fain, Ashley Fain, Ben McManus and Miriam (Eric) Martin. One sister preceded him in death, Carolyn (Richard) Bigham, of Rock Hill, SC.
His extended family included Harold and Virginia Keith, who treated Jack like one of their many children. His adopted brothers and sisters for the last 41 years include Wayne (Renee) Keith, Trudy (Johnny) Hulsey, Hazel (Jim) Davis, Lindsay (Libby) Keith, Tommy (Judy) Keith, and Carolyn (Richard) McGough.
Jack served in the SC National Guard in the early 1950s, attached to the U.S. Army Signal Corp, supporting critical communications for the Armed Forces, State Dept., and the ‘hot line’ between President Eisenhower and Nikita Khrushchev.
He was active in the amateur radio (“ham”) community from the 1940s until after 2010, under the call signs “K4HMG” and later “KN4HMG”. In the early 1950’s, he built and installed a ‘gen-set’ mobile amateur radio in his old ‘49 Ford. He often strapped a Morse code key to his thigh to ‘talk’ to other radio users around the globe while driving around Rock Hill.
Since the 1960s Jack designed and fabricated electrical controls and product manufacturing lines for furniture, textile, and construction industries worldwide, as well as for the U.S. Defense Dept. He was awarded several patents for industrial machinery and processes.
Jack delighted in the company of family and friends, and worked tirelessly to bring joy into the lives of those around him. He was a selfless problem-solver, eager to help others. He fervently believed that people can achieve anything, so long as they want it enough. To that end, Jack devoted his life to helping people believe in themselves.
He loved riding his purple Harley Heritage Classic Springer motorcycle to the mountains and the beach, playing with expensive new toys, and watching the Fourth of July fireworks across the lake with family gathered around him.
The funeral service will be held at 3 pm Sunday, April 8 at Asbury U.M.C. with burial following in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 2-3 prior in the sanctuary. Memorials may be made to Asbury U.M.C.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family. www.jamesfuneralhomeLKN.com
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