Douglas James Manley of Fort Benton passed away on October 13, 2023, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, of complications from COPD. He was 73.

Doug was born in Helena, Montana, to James E. Manley and Beatrice B. (Fairbanks) Manley. His father was in the Air Force, and the family, which grew to include Doug's older sister and two younger brothers, lived the nomadic lifestyle typical of military families. Doug attended at least eight primary and secondary schools in the U.S. and Germany, and graduated from high school in Cut Bank, Montana, in 1968.

Doug enlisted in the U.S. Army following graduation and was selected during basic training to attend Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and went on to serve in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces qualified, and rose to the rank of Captain in the Army Reserves after leaving active duty in 1971.

Following his active duty service, Doug moved to California— "the best place in the country to live if you're young," he said at the time. He attended the University of the Pacific and Cabrillo College and went on to obtain a BA degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975. He continued his education at Brown University in Rhode Island and received an MA in Sociology in 1979. At Brown Doug met Cynthia Maxwell, who was earning a BA degree in Political Science and Sociology, and they married in 1980.

The couple moved to California, where Cyndi earned a law degree from UCLA and Doug capitalized on his previous military training and found work in the private security industry. Cyndi was an accomplished horsewoman, and in California she and Doug enjoyed riding and showing their Arabians. They eventually settled on a large tract outside of Paso Robles, and Doug put much of his time and energy into managing the stables and property, which he continued to do after their amicable divorce in 2011.

In 2017, Doug moved to Fort Benton with his beloved horse Kevie and his long-time canine companions Monte and Phoebe to enjoy small-town life and to be nearer to friends and relatives in the area. He especially enjoyed breakfasts at the Wake Cup Coffee House and dinners at the VFW.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, James and Beatrice. He is survived by his sister, Lynn (Harry) Pearson of Amarillo, Texas; his brothers, Milo Manley of Ashland, Oregon, and Daryl (Mary) Manley of Casper, Wyoming; two nephews, Michael Lathrom of Tangent, Oregon, and James Lathrom of Salem, Oregon; and his former wife, Cynthia (Paul) Maxwell Curtin, of Cazenovia, New York.

A graveside memorial service will be held at the Geraldine Cemetery in July, 2024.

* An informal memorial gathering of Doug's friends, family and caregivers will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the Geraldine Cemetery followed by refreshments at Geraldine Senior Citizens Center at 11:00 am.*

Memorial donations can be made to the following:

Geraldine Senior Citizens Center, PO Box 256, Geraldine, MT 59446
Attn: Beth
MRMC Activities Dept.,  PO Box 249, Fort Benton, MT 59442
Attn: Ann Koch
Memorial Ambulance of Fort Benton, PO Box 653, Fort Benton, MT 59442