Obituary of Kerri A. Manning

The universe was forever shifted on December 22nd, 2024 - the day Kerri Ann Manning left this earth and entered through the Gates of Heaven with her mother and brother waiting to receive her. Kerri was born on May 14th, 1982, to her parents, Lori Russell and John Smee. She was a beautiful person that was filled with faith, wonder and embodied all the honesty and truthfulness the world had to offer. Her spirit captured the world. Kerri married her husband of twelve years, Nicholas, in her childhood church that she attended throughout her entire life. She was an educator in the Back Mountain before following her passion as a Floral Designer. Flowers were her language of love, which enabled her to speak through her designs and to touch the lives others during times of celebration and grief. Over the years she was able to open her home and provide love to many rescued animals. A family passion learned from her brother John Rhys and shared with her sister and mother. This is not the end of Kerri’s story – just the beginning of another chapter in her short time with us. Though she may not be here with us physically, know she is around us always. The stars will certainly gleam brighter at night as she lights up the night sky and forever shines down on us. She is survived by her loving husband, Nicholas, who was by her side until her last breath on Earth. Her father, John V. Smee, her sister and husband, Nikki and Dave Wilkes, her siblings, Nicole and Jacob Russell, and her stepfather, Todd Russell, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Friends, and the ever-extending chosen family. She was met at the Gates by her mother, Lori Russell and brother, John Rhys Smee. “Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.” – Emily Dickinson A memorial service will be held Saturday December 28, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. from the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, West Location, 717 Main Street Edwardsville. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Saturday at the funeral home. Condolences can be made by visiting Kerri’s obituary at www.ngjfuneral.com