Manis, Vivian Juanell Stewart – age 93 of Kingston, TN passed away peacefully at home on March 7, 2025 after a battle with cancer. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and friend to many. She was also a businesswoman, avid square dancer and teacher of almost 30 years in Harriman City Schools and Morgan County Schools. She was born in Elgin, TN in 1931. She graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree and the University of Tennessee with her Master’s degree in Education. She was known for being a wonderful cook, especially her fried apple pies and cinnamon rolls; being a beautiful seamstress; making gifts for people in her life, working in her flowers and yard, and sharing her cooking and sewing skills. Square dancing was her favorite activity she shared with her late husband, Earl. While they enjoyed dancing, it was the wonderful friends made along the way that they cherished the most. She was a member of the Three River Ramblers and Grandview Twirlers Square Dance Clubs. She served as President of the Sunbright Parent Teacher Association, President of the Sunbright Alumni Association, and President of the Harriman Business and Professional Women’s Club. She also was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, Beta Kappa Gamma Sorority, and Bethel Baptist Church in Harriman, TN; former Treasurer of Bethel Baptist Church, and former Secretary of the Three Rivers Ramblers Square Dance Club. Finally, she was voted as the Vocational Teacher of the Year at Harriman Occupational High School.
Preceded in death by parents Jesse and Delia Stewart; husbands, Otis Pemberton and Earl Manis; sisters, Jhnell Shifflett and Sally Stewart; brothers, Donnie Stewart and Sam Stewart. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Carol and Kenneth Delius of Harriman, TN; Jill and Michael Matthews of Knoxville, TN; granddaughter and husband, Christy and Geoff Robson of Knoxville, TN; grandsons and wives, George and Melanie Delius of Panama City Beach, FL and Brian and Merritt Matthews of Nashville, TN; great-grandson and wife, Ethan and Kateri Robson of Baton Rouge, LA; great-granddaughters Lauren Robson of Knoxville, TN and Bradley Stewart Matthews of Nashville, TN; great-granddaughter and husband, Carly and Dylan Melton of Lenoir City, TN; great-great-granddaughter, Layla Melton of Lenoir City, TN; sisters Cora Gene (Bonnie) King of Louisville, TN and Margaret Begley of Baltimore, MD; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family and Vivian were blessed to have the following caring and wonderful caregivers over the past five months: Eva Griffith, Alanis Little, Nannie Mae Reed, Faith Renzo, Kelly Wilson, Angelia Poore, Kat Egan, and Crystal Sims of Quality Private Duty Care; and Stephanie Cash-Puckett. We also appreciate the compassionate care of staff from Amedysis Hospice.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Kyker Funeral Home of Kingston. Funeral at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Greg Kelly officiating. Burial will follow at Kingston Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers: George Delius, Brian Matthews, Michael Matthews, Kenneth Delius, Geoff Robson, Ethan Robson and Paul Malmquist; honorary Pallbearers members: Numerous square dance friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Alan Taylor’s Shoes for Souls, PO Box 462, Kingston, TN 37763 or website: atshoesforsouls.com. Alan and the Taylor family mean so much to our family and are providing shoes, school supplies and more to children locally in Alan’s memory. Kyker Funeral Home of Kingston is serving the Manis Family.